
K? , % 






























V ' 






HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



STATE OF NEW JERSEY; 



CONTAINING 



6'X 



A GENERAL COLLECTION OF THE MOST INTERESTING FACTS, TRADITIONS, 
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES, Etc. 



RELATING TO ITS 



HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES, 



GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY TOWNSHIP IN THE STATE. 



Illustrated by 120 Engravings. 



BY JOHN W.^BARBER, 

AUTHOR Ot CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS, ETC. 

AND 

HENRY HOWE, 

AUTHOR OF "THE MEMOIRS OF EMINENT AMERICAN MECHANICS," ETC. 



[Arms of the State of New Jersey.] 




NEW YORK: 

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHORS, 

BY S. TUTTT.E, 194 CHATHAM-SQUARE. 
1846. 






Entered according to the Act of Congress, in tl»- year 1^44, by 

John \V. Barber an. I Henri Howe, 

in tin- Clerk's office of the District Court of Connecticut 




.1 II. Butoak, Trintir. 



PREFACE. 



The object of this work is to give an account of the most important and interesting 
events which have occurred in the State of New Jersey, together with geographical de- 
scriptions and numerous engravings. In selecting the extracts which are introduced in 
the course of the volume, care has been taken to avoid dry detail and tedious official 
documents, which usually appear in regular, formal history, and to give those selections 
likely to interest the feelings, refresh the memory, and instruct the mind. 

We are aware there are historical items in these pages which may seem to some too 
trivial, or perhaps too much beneath what is termed " the dignity of history." It may 
be observed, however, that we are not always competent judges of what may be val- 
uable or interesting to posterity. Much important information has undoubtedly been 
lost to the world by fastidious views on this subject ; and of that preserved, much at the 
time considered comparatively insignificant, has proved the most useful and instructive. 

In view of the great variety of subjects introduced, and the almost impossibility of 
producing a publication of this kind without errors and imperfections, it is with a degree 
of diffidence that it is submitted to the public, especially when we consider who are to be 
our readers. Travellers, in giving accounts of foreign countries, can make statements at 
random which may pass for truth, when there is none at hand able to detect their errors. 
This publication will come before many persons who have better means of information 
and more knowledge on some subjects introduced than can reasonably be expected from 
the authors. This is especially true in relation to the descriptive part of the book, for we 
were obliged to obtain much of that kind of information at second hand, and consequently 
were liable to adopt the errors or misrepresentations of many informants. 

In collecting the materials for this work, we have travelled over the State, conversed 
with her most intelligent citizens, among whom were survivors of the Revolution, and 
obtained from them descriptions of their respective localities, and many items of histori- 
cal value. We have, moreover, solicited written communications from gentlemen in all 
parts of the state, embodying facts of great value, which could be properly prepared 
only by those who resided on the spot. These solicitations have been met with a prompt, 
ness altogether unexpected, and the materials thus obtained have much enhanced the 
value of this publication, and placed us under lasting obligations. 

It will be perceived that numerous quotations are made in this volume from a variety of 
authorities ; in most instances of which credit has been given. As a general rule, we 
have preferred each account to appear as originally written, in the author's own words, 
from which the reader can draw his own inferences. In the geographical depart- 
ment, some information relating to the topography of the counties has been obtained from 
Thomas F. Gordon's valuable " Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey," published at 
Trenton in 1834, by Daniel Fen ton. The description of villages and the cities has been 
brought down to the present day by personal inquiry. For the boundaries of the town- 
ships and counties, their extent, course of rivers, &.C., we are indebted to the large, 
elegant, and uncommonly accurate map of New Jersey, drawn by Thomas Gordon, 
Esq., of Trenton, from his own original surveys. This valuable map is about to be re- 
published, and it is hoped will receive, as it well deserves, a generous patronage through- 
out the state. The population and statistics of the several townships are from the Uni- 
ted States census and statistics of 1840, by the order of Congress. 



4 PREFACE. 

The drawings for the numerous engravings interspersed throughout the work, 
were, with two or three exceptions, taken on the spot by the authors. In these engrav- 
ings, the principal object was to give faithful representations, rather than picturesque 
scenery, or beautiful specimens of art. We wish it to be remembered, that the appear, 
ance of places will be essentially altered as viewed from different points. In order to 
form an entirely correct judgment of the faithfulness of these illustrations, it will be 
necessary to stand upon the places from whence they were taken. 

The plan of this work is not altogether new. The first of the kind, the " Historical 
Collections of Connecticut," by the senior compiler of this volume, was published in 
1836. Three years later he prepared a work on the same plan on Massachusetts, and in 
1841, in conjunction with the junior compiler of the present work, the Historical Collec- 
tions of New York was issued. The present year a similar volume on Pennsylvania, 
by Mr. Sherman Day, has been published. In the spring of 1842, the compilers turned 
their attention to the State of New Jersey. The result of their labors (whatever may be 
its imperfections) has served to embody a mass of materials for future history in a tan- 
gible and substantial form, and to rescue from mere tradition many incidents which at- 
tend this extraordinary age and country, important in their local and general bearing, 
which would otherwise be lost in the lapse of time. 

The history of New Jersey is one of deep interest. Some of the most important 
events of the American Revolution occurred upon her soil. In that arduous struggle, 
the sacrifices she made will ever redound to her praise ; and for her treatment of the 
aborigines she shall receive still higher praise. In the language of one of her favorite 
sons, "It is a proud fact in her history, that every foot of her soil has been obtained 
from the Indians by fair and voluntary purchase and transfer — a fact that no other state 
in the Union, not even the land winch bears the name of Penn, can boast of." 



TOWNSHIPS, CITIES, AND VILLAGES. 



Absecnmbe, 67 
Aequackauonck, 405 
Admonesson, 207 
Alexandria, '239 
Allentown, 370 
Allowaystown, 416 
Ambnv, 305, 309 
Amwe'll, -Mil 
Asbury, 488 
Augusta, 465 

Baptist-town, 249, 356 
Bargaintown, 64 
Barnegat, 369 
Barnesboro, 217 
Baekingridge, 443 
Bantu, 121 
Beatty'stown, 500 
Bedminster, 440 
Belvidere, 502 
Belleville, 153 
Bergen, 226 
Berkeley. 217 
Bernard, 442 
Bethlehem, 243 
Billingspnrt, 217 
Birmingham, 118 
BJackwoodtown, 215 
Blackwells, 455 
Blawenburg, 461 
Bloomfield, 156 
Bloomsbury, 243, 264 
Boonton, 381 
Bonhamtown, 324 
Bordentnwn, 99 
Bound Brook, 452 
Branchville, 465 
Bridgeport, 121,223 
Bridgeton, 137 
Bridgewater, 448 
Br.iokiin, 322 
Buckshutem, 142 
Bull's Ferry, 75 
Buddstown, 118 
Burlington, 86 
Byram, 464 

Caldwell, 157 
Camden, 203 
Camptown, 158 

Canton, 425 
Cape May, 122 
Carpenter's Landing, 217 
Cawtaba, 69 
Cedar Creek, 328 
Cedarville, 142 
Centreville, 137, 172, 255, 

431 
Chanceville, 356 
Chatham, 375. 378 
Chester, 97, 378 
Chesterfield. 99 
Chew's Landing, 215 
Clinton, 15-*, 244 
Cold Spring, 127 
Colt's Neck, 364 
Columbia, 261,375,507 
Columbus, 110 
Conimunipaw, 230 
Connecticut Farms, 196 
Cooperstown, 122, 221 
Couraenville, 4T55 

Cranberry, 319 
Crosswicks, 103 

Daretown, 431 
Danville, 499 
Deckertown, 483 
Delaware, 245 



Derrfield, 137 
Dennis, 123 
Denmsville, 123 
Deptford, 306 
Dividing Creeks, 141 
Dorchester, 148 
Dover, 327, 399 
Downe, 14(1 
Drakestown, 401 
Drakesville, 40] 

Eayrstown, 118 
F.aiontown, 363 
East Windsor, 257 
East Madison, 375 
Egg Harbor. 64 
Egg Harbor, Little, 107 
Elizabethtown, 158 
Glsingborough, 428 
Englishtown, 350 
English Neighborhood, 73 
Everitt'stown, 240 
Evesham, 104 
Ewing, 258 

Fairfield, 142, 158 
Finesville, 489 
Flatbrookville, 482 
Flemington, 250 
Fort Lee, 74 
Frankford, 464 
Franklin, 71,158,213,454, 

46'J, 488 
Franklinville, 154,214 
Freehold, 329 
Frenchtown, 240 

Galloway, 67 

German Valley, 402 
Glassboro, 214 
Gloucester, 70,215, 220 
Goshen, 370 
Green, 467 
Greenville, 250, 467 
Greenwich, 143, 216, 489 
Griggstown, 454 

Hackensack, 73, 80 
Hackettstown, 497 
Haddonfield, 218 
Hamburg, 481 
Hamilton, 68, 258 
Hampton, 121 
Hanover, 106, 379 
Hardiston, -i<i~ 
Hard wick, 490 
Harmony, 356, 491 
Harrington, 77 
Harrison, 230 
Harrisonville, 223 
Hartford, 105 
Hightstown, 257 
Hillsborough, 454 
Hoboken, 2:14 
Hope. 491 

Hopewell, 146,259 
Hornerstown, 370 
Howell, 350 
Hughesville, 490 

[mlaystown, 370 

Independence, 497 

Jacobstown, 106 
Jacksonville, 120,309 
Jackson G lass Works 222 
Jefferson, 402 
Jersey City, 230 
Jobnsonburg, 490 



Keyport, 356 
K ingston, 319 
Kingwood, 249 

Know I ton, 507 

Lafayette, 477 
Lamberton, 264 
Lambertvilie, 241 

Lawrence, 262 
Lawrenceville, 263 
Lebanon, 249 
Leedsville, 64 
Leesburg, 148 
Little Egg Harbor, 107 
Little Falls, 106 
Liltletown, 382 
Livingston, 172 
Lodi, 79 

Loug-a-coming, 215 
Long Branch, 363 
Lower Alloway's Creek 

426 
Lower Evesham, 105 
Lower Penn's Neck, 429 
Lower Township, 125 

Madison, 375 
Manabocking, 369 
Manchester, 406 
Mannington, 428 
Mansfield, 109, 111, 499 
Marshallsville, 148 
Matoui hin, 324 
Mauricetown, 141 
Maurice River, 147 
May's Landing, 68 
M'Cartyville, 121 
Mechanicsville, 255 
Medford, 105 
Mendham, 382 
Middle Township, 129 
Middlebnsh, 454 
Middletown; 353 
Milfoid, 239 
Millstone, 455 
Milville, 149 
Monroe, 322, 382 
Montague, 469 
Montgomery, 461 
Mooreslowu, 97 
Morrislown, 3H4 
Mount Airy, 242 
Mount Clinton, 73 
Mount Holly, 111 
Mullica, 70 
Mul lica Hill, 216 

Nantuxet, 142 
Newark, 173 
New Harbadoes, 80 
New Brunswick, 310 
New Durham, 234, 322 
New Egypt, 370 
New Germautown, 255 
New Hampton, 250 
New Milfoid, 73 
New Paterson, 478 
New Providence, 186 
Newton, 217, 471 
New Vernon, 384 
North Branch, 452 
Northampton, ill 
North Bergen, 233 
North Brunswick, 310 
Northfield, 172 
Nottingham, 264 

Ogdensburg, 469 
Old Bridge, 309 



Orange, 186 
Oxford, 500 

Pahaquarry, 505 
Paramus, 72 
Parcipany, 382 
Paterson, 407 
Pemberton, 106 
Pennington, 260 
Penn's Grove, 429 
Pequannock, 397 
Perth Amhoy, 305 
Peter's Valley, 478 
Philipsburg, 489 
I'ilesgrove, 430 
Piscataway, 322 
Pitts Grove, 431 
Pitlstown, 240 
PJainfleld, 199 
Plainsborough, 319 
Pluckamin, 440 
Pompton, 397, 413 
Port Elizabeth, 147 
Port N orris, 142 
Port Republic, 67 
Princeton, 264 

Cluakertown, 249 

Rahway, 188 
Rancocus, 122 
Randolph, 399 
Raritan, 250 

Keadinglon, 255 
Red Bank, 360 
Ringwood, 413 
Ringoes, 242 
Kockawav, 397 
Rocky Hill, 461 
Roxbury, 400 
Ryerson's, 413 

Saddle River, 84 
Salem, 432 
Bandtown, 217 
Sandiston, 478 
Scotch Plains, 200 
Shrewsbury, 358 
Somerville" 448 
South Amboy, 309 
South Brunswick, 319 
South Orange, 186 
Sparta, 468 
Spotswood, 322 
Springfield, 119, 190 
Sqtian, 350 
Squankum, 222 
Squiretown, 172 
Stafford, 368 
Stanhope, 464 
Stewartsville, 489 
Stillwater, 478 
Stow Creek, 152 
Suckasunny, 401 
Swedesboro, 223 

Taunton, 105 
Tewksbury, 255 
Tiiiton Falls, 364 
Toms River, 328 
Trenton, 281 
Tuckahoe, 132 
Tuckerton, 107 

Union, 195,196,220 
Upper Freehold, 370 
lip[ier Alloways Creek, 

415 
Upper Penn's Neck, 429 



INDEX. 



Upper township, 132 

Van Vorst, 238 
Vernon, 158, 480 
Vincenttown, 118 

Waertown, 369 
Walpack, 481 



Wantage, 482 
Warren, 463 
Washington, 85, 120, 222, 

310. 402, 499 
Walerford, 221, 222 
Westfield, 98, 199, 200 
West Hoboken, 234 
Westville, 207 



West Milford, 411 
West Windsor, 304 
Weymouth, 69, 70 
Whipany, 381 
Whitehouse, 255 
Williamsburg, 3U4, 328 
Williams-town, 322 



Willingboro, 122 
Wood bridge, 324 
Woodbury, 207 
Woodstown, 430 
Woodwardsvllle, 103 
Woolwich, 223 
Wrightstown, 106 



INDEX 



Act respecting oaths 435 

Alliance, frigate, anecdote of 222 

Alliance with France, celebration of the anniver- 
sary of 441 

Allegiance, copy of the oath of 125 

American army, sufferings of, at Morristown.. . . 388 

Amusing Anecdotes 254,427 

Amusing extract from ancient laws of Princeton 

College 266 

Andre, Major, execution and grave of 77 

Andre, Poem by, " the Cow Chase" 237 

Andrews, Jacob, notice of. 107 

Articles of retaliation in Monmouth 371 

Assunpink, battle of 2119 

Asgill, Capt. unfortunate situation of 367 

Bacon, the refugee, death of. 369 

Bali, Stephen, murder of 229 

Baptist church, first in New Jersey 354 

Baylor, Col. massacre of his troop 78 

Brfsse, liov. proclamation of. 36 

Betsej , recapture of 134 

Beeslej , Capt Jonathan, death of. 105 

Bold Dragoon, anecdote of 219 

Bordentown, invasion of 100 

Brainerd, David, the missionary, notice of 320 

Brownlee, Rev. Dr. allusion to 443 

Bull's Ferry, storming of blockhouse at 75 

Buonapartes residence 102 

Burr, Aaron, military exploit of 83 



Caldwell, Mrs. murder of 

Cannon, singular 

Champe, Sergeant, escape of 

Chimney Rock 

Clams, dried for the army 

Clinton. Cen. forbearance of. 

Cob dollars described 

College of New Jersey, history of 161, 179, 

Col. Joe, notice of 

Comely, Miss Mary, adroitness of 

Condit, Rev. Aaron, notice of. 

Copper nines 155.230,252,317, 451, 

Col k, the, takl II 

Conflict, ile-pei ate, on Maurice river 

Connecticut Farms, invaded 

Continental money 48, 

Copperas works 

Cornwallis, anecdote of 

Comwallis attempts to prevent the Americans 

from passing Coryel's Perry 242 

Cotton manufacture, improvements in 408 

Closter, incursion into 76 

Crosswicks, military operations at 104 

Curiosity, a natural 407 

Delaware river, first attempt at settlement on its 

E. shore 207 

Delaware and Atlantic railroad Ill 

Delaware Water Cap 508 

Delight, the, shipwitxked 134 



Dickerson, Hon. Mahlon, mine of 400 

Dolphin, capture of the 69 

Donop, Count, attack upon Burlington.. 94 

1 lollop, Count, death of 212 

Duel between Cobbett and Matthew Carey 205 

Duelling ground at Weehawken 234 

Hunkers, history of. 247 

Dutch settlements In Bast Jersey 227 

Dunlap, Win. interesting revolutionary reminis- 
cences of 308, 462 

Eakin, Rev. Samuel, patriotism of 430 

Edwards, Stephen, the spy, affecting death of. .. 367 

Education, some interesting tacts respecting 487 

English settlements, first attempt at in New Jer- 
sey 15!., 358, 433 

Elizabethtown grant, conflicts respecting... 159, 173 

Fairs 143, 435 

Fagan, the pine robber 352 

Fen ton, the pine robber 351 

Fenwick, the founder of Salem 433 

Finley, Rev. Dr 413 

Fisheries 40 

Flemington, invasion of 234 

Fort, evacuation of at Billingsport 217 

Fort. Indian 1 

Fort Lee, evacuation of. 74 

Fort, Musquito 4-J8 

Fort Mercer, storming of 2119 

Fort Nassau, site of 207 

Fort at Tom's river stormed 328 

Fort at Jersey City 332 

Franklin, Gov 

Freshet, great, in the Delaware 216 

Gallows lor lories, iii Monmouth 371 

Girard, Stephen, at Mt. Holly 112 

Gloucester Fox- 1 1 on ting Club 214 

Gloucester Point, skirmish at 221 

Gloucester Point, ancient town there 220 

Goods, running of in the revolution 68 

Greene, Col. death of 212 

Hackensack, Washington's entrance into 81 

Hackensack, British entrance into >-._> 

Hamilton, Col. Alexander, death of 234 

Hancock's bridge, massacre at 4-J0 

Hand, Col. letter of 4-JI 

Hartshome, Richard, settles at Mlddietown 354 

Hawk, the. taken 134 

Heberton Hutchinson, death of l _!d5 

Hermit near Burlington 119 

Heroism of a boy y.|5 

Heroism of a woman 212, 365,342 

• idier made prisoner by a woman 325 

Hopper, Capt. murdered 76 

Horse thief, death of a 325 

Horseshoe, superstition respecting 119 

Howell, Gov. anecdote of • 

Howe, Gen. suppresses the mutiny of the Jersey 
troops 414 



INDEX. 



Howe, Sir William, anecdote of 314 

Howe, Sir William, his account of the evacua- 
tion of New Brunswick 314 

Huddy, Capt. Joshua, cruel murder of. 365 

1 1 ii is of the American army 453 

Hyler, Capt. Adam, exploits of 3J6 

Indians, history and customs of 52 

Indians, last remnant in New Jersey 121 

Indian chief, Brant, humanity of. 486 

Indian chief, Calvin, interesting account of 510 

Indian relics 384, 400, 401 

Indians, missionary among 320 

Indian method of cooking clams 364 

Indian names, with their significations 512 

Indian incursions 465, 469,479,484,503,506 

Indian woman, kindness of 204, 208 

Indian Will, notice of 363 

Jersey Blues, origin of the name 198 

Jersey Line, mutinies 4 Hi 

Juliet, Cavalier, letter to Gov. Livingston 165 

Journal, ancient 124 

Kalm's description of New Brunswick in 1748. . 312 

Kearney, Maj. anecdote of 357 

Kegs, battle of 101 

Kelly, Col. bravery of 274 

Lafayette 84, 221 

Laws, early moral 35 

Learning and Spicer's collections, notice of 130 

Lee, Gen. Chas. taken prisoner 444 

Leslie, ('apt. death and grave of 440 

Little, Capt exploits of 184 

Long I iil I in chancery 159, 173 

Lucretia Emmons, heroism of 365 



Mannington, midnight incursion into 

Matrimonial knot, ancient method of tying 

Maurice river, why so called 

Mendham, singular origin of the name 

Mercer, Gen. death of 272, 

Mermaid, wrecked 

Mey, Capt. Cornelius Jacnbse, egotism of 

Minisink, interesting article upon its settlement... 

Military execution 

Mineralogical region, interesting 

Molly, Mrs. Capt. notice of 

Monckton, Col. death of. 

Monckton, Col. crave of. 

Monmouth, battle of 

Monmouth, battle, anecdotes of the 

Monmouth, liriiish depredations in 

Moody, Bonnal, the tory leader, adventures of. . 

Morrell, Rev. Thomas, notice of 

Moravians, history and customs of 

Morris Canal 231, 

Morris, Lewis, improvements at Shrewsbury 

Morris Co. Swamp 

" First, church in 

Morristown Ghost 



Occurrences, remarkable, in olden times 

Packet, English, capture 

Palisades 

Paterson Falls, death of a lady at 

Penn, Win., reproves for smoking 

Pennsylvania line, mutinies 

Perseverance, affecting account of its being 

wrecked 

Pine Region of New Jersey 

11 Bobbers, thrilling account of 

Philosophic Solitude, "poem upon 

Pirate Tree 

Poor, Gen., funeral of 

Potts, Miss, narrow escape of 

Powwowing 

Preacher, the sleeping 

Presbyterian church, First, with services in En- 
:i 

Prices, profits, and currency in 1670 

Princeton, Battle of. 



438 
131 

1 17 
382 

274 

69 
123 
506 
454 

-is I 

34a 

341 

:n; 
330 
341 
344 
-i- I 
161 
192 
401 
.358 
375 
380 
394 

49 

69 

73 
■I 1 2 

9) 
392 

135 

6:t 
i.M 
162 
92 

84 
398 
149 
150 

160 

47 

26" 



Printers, early 44, 91 

Privateers' rendezvous 108 

Privateer, Gov. Livingston 139 

Pulaski, defeat of 109 

Pulaski, his expert horsemanship 387 

Raid, Col., death of 298 

Railroad arch yj 

Ray, Col., escape of 343 

Red Bank, battle at 211 

Refugee boat attacked 69 

Revolutionary anecdote 98 

" reminiscences of, at Mendham 384 

" incident 156 

Robber, death of 377 

Robbers, pine 351 

Rogerines, notice of 401 

Sandy Hook, curious Indian document respecting 361 
Salem Co., interesting military operations at 416, 426 

Sassafras exported 108 

Scattergood, Thomas, notice of 110 

Seal, Great 33 

Sea, encroachments of, at Cape Island 127 

Shrewsbury, incursion into 368 

Silver coin, ancient 98, 363 

Simcoe, Lieut. Col., wounded at Monmouth... . 337 
" military operations in Salem 421 

" " Somerset 456 

Singing, troubles respecting 393 

Shipwreck, appalling — 109, 135 

Skunk, adventures of the 134 

Slavery 37 

Sloop, the making of 108 

Snake stories 141, 241 

Springfield, battle of 192 

Spring, chalybeate 364, 403, 489 

Southard, Samuel L., teaches school at Mend- 
ham 383 

Southard, Samuel L., extract from address upon 

Indian claims 511 

Stout, Mrs., remarkable preservation of 259 

Superstition, lecture upon 148 

Swamp, the Morris 249 

Swartwout's Pond, Indian barbarities near 479 



Taylor, Rev. James Brainerd, allusion to 

Tea burnt at Cohansey in the Revolution 

" first introduction of, into Cape. May 

Tennant, Rev. Wm., remarkable trance of 

Thanksgivings and Fast days 

Theological Seminary 267 

Transport, a British, taken 

Travelling in 1680 

Trenton, battle of 

" bridge 

Treen, Capt. Wm., heroism of 

Twins, remarkable connection of 



263 
145 
126 
347 

37 
311 
134 

41 
281 
286 
135 
382 

Uncle Philip, eccentricities of 466 

Vessels, British, capture of 

Visits and refreshments 



Wampum, manufacture of, at the present day. . 
Washington, anecdotes of 82, 386-89, 407, 

" farewell address 

" headquarters 385, 

" heroic devotion of 

" reception at Trenton in 1789 

" plan to capture him 

" proclamation against gaming 

Washington's Rock 

Wayne, Gen., anecdote respecting 

Whales caught at tht present day 

Webberly West, the deer hunter 

Webb, Capt., the preacher 

Well's Falls 

Windmill Isfend, execution of pirates at 

Wild beasts, bounties on 

Witches' Tree 

" concei t of 

" pranks of 

William the Fourth at Mt. Holly 

WoodhuH, Rev. Mr., patriotism of 



134 
436 

72 
,462 
461 
461 
276 
301 
377, 
388 
201 
373 
3G9 
304 
261 
242 
204 

40 

92 

93 
466 
112 
366 



B 



IXDEX. 



Wowlbridse. skirmishes near ?25 | roun« Henry, anecdote of 133 

Woolman House, view c :" 114 j 

Zinc ihe only localitv 01". in tb« Union 469 

Yankee, trick of the 363 I Zinzendorf, Count, interesting anecdote of 496 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND NOTICES. 



CoSMODORE WlLLIASi B.UXBRIDGE 
BlIU 

Rev. Iambs Caldwell 188 

Hox. Abraham Clark 1?. J 

viTHA'. I'-.csrvsex .... 

Gen 1 140 

iah 246 

: kelixghosex . . . 459 

Philip Freneac 355 



101 

Hox. Josiah Horxdloweb. 155 

Col. Joab HorGHTOx 

WtUOH P. HUNT 



- v. ESCL 

Capt. James Lawrence 96 

■■'illiam Livingstox 162 

mel Morgan 395 

Gov. William Paterson 314 

Gen. Z. M. Pike ?C6 

Hon. J man 313 

Aarent Schuyler 155 

Capt. Richard Somers 64 

Hon H r S mrp 446 

L. Southard 446 

.chard Stockton 

Lord Stirling 445 

John Woolman 114 



EPITAPHS. 



Rev. J. F. Arrnstrons 30-2 

Gen. J' 303 

303 

is Boudinot 



497 

' adfonj 99 

Hon. David Brear.y 303 



BocU IBB 

319 

a-- 1T1 

171 

Be*. Joseph Campbell 8M 

• od 172 



Dr." John Gondii 187 

3t*j 

188 

»e 

>•■-:■: - L'v. - -~ • 

3J5 

Rev. J. Dickenson 171 



I - inwards 

. ■. iiig 303 

R.B. Fa 396 

Samuel Firuev, S.T.D 

Cot. Cb: 397 

397 

Rev. Win. Frizer 303 

Gen. Joh . sen 

Rev. Jc-: sen 452 

Hon. Frederic k ' 

Thomas ' 309 

- 397 

Thoma* K^.'t 383 

CfcriaopherKen 408 

Shepherd Kollock. Esq 172 

ah Ha-denbe.-zh 317 

Rev. J. H. Han'enbergh 317 

Hon. H. D. HaJiburton. and others 362 

R=v. A*a Jh -yer WB 



James Lawrence 97 

John Lawrence 190 

_ Esq 130 

440 

-- n 318 

Rev Robert sTKeon 309 

Prof. J. Maclean 

Col. V. lush 4P9 

Rev. iir. Haewhona 1-5 

Rev J 107 

Prof. V 381 

Mrs. Maria Mkheau 17-.' 

Voodbull 

Brieadi-r A. W. White 319 

. n 171 

Maiy Oejdea 

Conrad Oniensetter 197 

e Pajbel 396 

Win. S. Pennington 

Rev 

Mrs. } 326 

Pon 

i 303 

Richards 190 

152 

i-'-ii-hariahRoseeU 354 

3pket - 1-28 

Jacob Spicer 

Mrs. J S 

172 

Rev ; - 302 

Smith 

- - Smith 779 

- art 498 

.'i and sons 

Rev . 

•-chard Varick 

■ an Bunsehoten 

Rev. John S Vredenburg 452 

...i. Wade 199 

D 303 

I Cap: . ■ .ams 199 

I Pres. J. Witherspoon 299 



NEW JERSEY- 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 

Soon after the voyages of Columbus, John Cabot and Sebastian 
his son, two Venetians, in the service of Henry VII. of England, 
were commissioned " to discover the isles, regions, and provinces 
of the heathen and infidels, which had been unknown to all the 
nations of Christendom, in whatever part of the globe they might 
be placed." Under this commission, on the 24th of June, 1497, the 
Cabots discovered the island of Newfoundland. From thence they 
sailed downward along the coast, it is believed, as far south as Cape 
Florida. It does not appear that they made any attempt to form 
settlements ; but they landed at various places, and took possession 
of the country in the name of the English king. 

From a variety of causes, the English took no further advantage 
of their discoveries till nearly a century afterwards. In 1584, 
Queen Elizabeth of England, by patent, granted to Sir Walter 
Raleigh authority to discover, occupy, and govern " remote, heathen, 
and barbarous countries," not previously possessed by any Christian 
prince or people. Under this commission, Raleigh and his asso- 
ciates sent two ships to America, commanded by Amidas and Bar- 
low. These men landed at Roanoke, took possession of the coun- 
try for the crown of England, and called it Virginia. An attempt 
was made to establish a settlement in 1585 and in 1590, both of 
which were unsuccessful. In 160G, King James, without regarding 
Raleigh's right, granted a new patent of the country of Virginia, 
the bounds of which were considered as extending from the south- 
ern boundary of North Carolina to the northern boundary of Maine. 
This tract was divided into two districts ; the one called North, the 
other South Virginia. The southern district was granted to Sir 
Thomas Gates and his associates, chiefly resident in London, and 
therefore styled the London Company. North Virginia was grant- 
ed to Thomas Hanham and his associates, who were styled the 
Plymouth Company. 

In 1609, Henry Hudson, an English mariner, in the service of the 
Dutch East India Company, in attempting to find a passage through 
the American continent, entered Delaware bay. on the 28th of Au- 
gust. Finding the navigation somewhat difficult, on account of 
shoal water, he proceeded but a short distance. Following the 
eastern shore of New Jersey, he anchored, his ship (called the Half- 
moon) within Sandy Hook, on the 3d of September, 1609. 

2 



10 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

On the 5th of September, Hudson (as it appears from his journal) 
sent his boat ashore, for the purpose of exploring and sounding the 
waters lying to the south, within Sandy Hook, and forming now 
what is called the Horse-shoe. Here the boat's crew landed, and 
penetrated some distance into the woods, in the present limits of 
Monmouth county. They were very well received by the natives, 
who presented them very kindly with what the journal calls " green 
tobacco," and also with "dried currants," [probably whortleberries,] 
which were represented as having been found in great plenty, and 
of a very excellent quality. 

" On the 6th of September, Hudson sent a boat manned with five 
hands to explore what appeared to be the mouth of a river, at the 
distance of about four leagues from the ship. This was no doubt 
the strait between Long and Staten islands, generally called the 
Narrows. Here, the writer of the journal observes, ' a good depth 
of water was found,' and within a large opening, and a narrow 
river to the west ; in which it is evident he refers to what is now 
called the Kills, or the channel between Bergen Neck and Staten 
island. In exploring the bay and the adjacent waters, the boat's 
crew spent the whole day. On their way in returning to the ship, 
towards night, they were attacked by the natives, in two canoes; 
the one carrying fourteen men, the other twelve. A skirmish en- 
sued, in which one of Hudson's men, named* John Colman, was 
killed by an arrow, which struck him in the throat ; and two more 
were wounded. The next day the remains of Colman were in- 
terred on a point of land, not far from the ship, which from that 
circumstance received the name of Colman's Point ; and which, 
probably, was the same that is now called Sandy Hook." 

On the 11th of September, Hudson sailed through the Narrows, 
entered the river which bears his name, which it appears he ex- 
plored as far as Albany. On the 4th of October, Hudson came 
out of the river, and. without anchoring in the bay, proceeded direct- 
ly on his voyage to Europe. 

" The Dutch immediately began to avail themselves of the ad- 
vantage which the discovery of Hudson presented to their view. 
In 1610, it appears that at least one ship was sent hither by the 
East India Company, for the purpose of trading in furs, which it is 
well known continued, for a number of years, to be the principal 
object of commercial attraction to this part of the new world. In 
1614, a fort and trading-house were erected, on the spot where Al- 
bany now stands, and called Fort Orange ; and about the same 
time another fort and trading-house were established on the south- 
west point of Manhattan island, and called New Amsterdam. The 
whole colony received the name of New Netherlands." 

The precise date of the first European settlement, within the 
limits of New Jersey, does not distinctly appear. It is believed 
that the first settlement commenced at Bergen, about the year 1618, 
by a number of Danes or Norwegians, who accompanied the Dutch 
colonists who came over to New Netherlands. It appears that, as 



OUTLINE HISTORY. H 

early as 1614, a redoubt was thrown up on the right bank of Hud- 
son river, probably at the present Jersey City point. 

In 1621, "the privileged West India Company" was formed in 
Holland : this company, in 1623, dispatched a ship, under the com- 
mand of Cornelius Jacobse Mey, with settlers, fully provided with 
means of subsistence, and with articles of trade. Mey entered 
Delaware bay, and gave his own name to its northern cape, which 
it still retains, [Cape May.] He explored the bay and the river, 
and at length landed, and built a fort at Tcchaacho, upon a stream 
called by the natives Sassackon. This stream, now called Timber 
creek, empties into the Delaware, a few miles below Camden. The 
fortification was called Fort Nassau, and its erection may be con- 
sidered as the first attempt to establish a settlement on the eastern 
shore of the Delaware. 

" The West India Company, under whose direction the enterprise 
had been attempted, endeavored, by the offer of many advantages, 
to induce others to engage therein. They even granted charters 
to individuals, giving to them the exclusive right to large portions 
of land, subject only to the Indian claim. A number of persons 
took advantage of this privilege, and sent out agents to select and 
purchase tracts. One was obtained, in this way, thirty-two miles 
in length, and two in breadth, upon the western side of the bay. 
Another, sixteen miles square, on the peninsula of Cape May, was 
bought of nine Indian chiefs ; and other portions were taken up in 
a similar manner." 

" The possessors of these claims formed an association among 
themselves, having in view the permanent settling of these lands, 
as well as the prosecution of trade. They dispatched a vessel, un- 
der the command of David Peiterson De Vries. He left the Texel 
December 12th, 1630, and arrived in the Delaware in the course 
of the winter. It is stated that De Vries found none of the Euro- 
peans who had preceded him, and that Fort Nassau had fallen into 
the hands of the Indians. Misfortune also awaited the new set- 
tlers. Having erected a fort, the commander returned to Holland ; 
and during his absence a feud arose with one of the native tribes, 
which at length terminated in the massacre of every one of the 
colonists." 

" De Vries returned shortly afterward with a new company, and 
while he mourned the loss of his former companions, he narrowly 
escaped a similar fate. Pressed for provisions, he was compelled 
to conceal his resentment, and to continue an intercourse with the 
natives ; and they, under the pretence of giving a supply, directed 
him to proceed up the river and enter the Timmerkill, a small 
stream, now called Cooper's creek. He was saved by the kindness 
of an Indian woman. She informed him that treachery was in- 
tended, and that the entire crew of a vessel had already been de- 
stroyed in that place Disheartened by repeated disasters, the 

Dutch soon afterward abandoned the country ; and for some years 
not a single European was left upon the shores of the Delaware." 



12 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

" It was next visited by another people, the Swedes. It is not 
easy to determine the precise objects of the Swedish immigrants, 
or upon what ground their claims were founded. By one of their 
own historians, it is said that they had acquired the right both of 
the English and of the Dutch, either by grant or by purchase ; but 
this declaration is wanting in other support. At a subsequent pe- 
riod, indeed, after they had been some time in the country, applica- 
tion was made by Chancellor Oxenstiern, the Swedish embassador, 
to have the rights of the English yielded up ; but it does not ap- 
pear that even then any agreement was concluded. But whatever 
was the nature of their claim, the Swedes proceeded in the prose- 
cution of their plans. Extensive grants had been made by the 
government, giving to certain companies the full right to the lands 
they should purchase of the natives, and conferring also the power 
of making laws, subject only to the control of the crown." 

"In the year 1637, two Swedish ships arrived in the Delaware, 
bringing a number of settlers. They landed on the western shore, 
but purchased lands on both sides of the river. They were soon 
followed by other companies; and in the year 1642, John Printz, a 
military officer, was sent over as governor of the colony. He es- 
tablished himself upon an island called Tennekeng, or, as the word 
is now pronounced, Tinnicum ; and this island was given to him in 
fee by the Swedish queen. Here he erected a fort, planted an or- 
chard, and built a church and several dwellings. For himself it is 
said he built a fine house, and called it, from his own name, 'Printz 
Hall.* At the same time with the governor came John. Campanius 
Holm,* a clergyman, and the future historian of the colony ; and 
in the same company was Lindstrom, an engineer, who afterward 
published a map of the Delaware and the adjacent parts." 

" If ever the Dutch had relinquished the claim to their posses- 
sions upon the Delaware, they seem to have paid but little regard 
to the agreement ; for we soon find them again established at Fort 
Nassau, and attempting settlements at other places. For a time 
the country was occupied by the two nations in common ; and it is 
hinted, by some writers, that an agreement was concluded between 
them in order to resist the pretensions made by the English. How- 
ever this may be, a difference soon arose between themselves ; and 
the Swedes, either aggravated by injury or injustice, or moved by 
a feeling of jealousy, made a demand for the surrender of certain 
places held by their rivals. The demand being refused, the places 
were taken by force ; and the violence thus committed was the 
commencement of general hostilities. The Dutch had powerful 
aid at hand, in the settlements of their countrymen at New Am- 
sterdam ; and Stuyvesant, the governor at that place, immediately 
departed, with a strong force, to the Delaware." 

He first descended upon the fort at Elsingburg, and, having cap- 

* The latter name, Holm, "was added because of Stockholm being the place of his 
residence." — Clay's Annals of the Swedes. 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 13 

tured the garrison, proceeded at once to the reduction of other 
places. The Swedes had no adequate means of resistance, and 
were finally compelled to give up all their possessions. The fort 
on the island of Tenneking, with all the improvements, fell into 
the hands of the conquerors. These occurrences took place toward 
the close of the year 1655. Thus terminated the Swedish au- 
thority."* 

* Printz, the governor of New Sweden, (as this part of the country was called,) con- 
tinued his authority till he returned to Sweden, about 1654, having first deputed his son, 
John Papegoia, governor in his stead. Papegoia soon returned to Europe, and left the 
government to John Claudius Rising. "Soon after Mr. Rising became governor, he 
invited ten of the Indian chiefs to a friendly conference. It was held at Tinnicum, on 
the 17th of June, 1654. He saluted them, from the Swedish queen, with assurances of 
her favor, put them in mind of the purchase of the lands already made, and requested a 
continuation of their friendship. He distributed various presents among them, and gave 
a good entertainment to them and their company. They were much pleased, and assured 
him of a faithful affection. Mr. Campanius has given a very particular account of this 
conference, in which he represents one of their chiefs, named Naaman, as making a 
speech, in the course of which ' he rebuked the rest for having spoken evil of the Swedes, 
and done them an injury, hoping they would do so no more, for that the Swedes were 
very good people.' He also observed that ' the Swedes and the Indians had been as one 
body and one heart, and that thenceforward they should be as one head, at the same 
time making a motion as if he were tying a strong knot ; and then made this compari- 
son, that as the calabash was round without any crack, so they should be a compact 
body without any fissure.' 

Campanius represents the Indians as having been frequent visitors at his grandfather's 
house. In the conversations he there had with them, we are told, ' he generally succeed- 
ed in making them understand that there was one Lord God ; that he was self-existent, 
one and in three persons ; how the same God had made the world from nothing, and 
created man, from whom all other men had sprung ; how Adam afterward, by his diso- 
bedience, had sinned against his Creator, and involved in the penalty of that sin all his 
descendants ; how God sent upon earth his only Son, Jesus Christ, who was born of the 
Virgin Mary, for the redemption and salvation of mankind ; how he died upon the cross, 
and was raised again the third day ; and, lastly, how after forty days he ascended to 
heaven, whence he will return at a future day to judge the quick and the dead, &c.' The 
Indians took so much interest in these instructions, and seemed so well disposed to em- 
brace the Christian religion, that Mr. Campanius was induced to learn their language, 
that he might the more effectually bring them acquainted with these great truths. He 
translated the catechism into their language ; and, if he did not convert many of them 
to the Christian faith, they at least acquired so much knowledge of it as to be led to see 
and admire its great beauty and excellency. 

The above facts suggest the remark, that the Swedes may claim the honor of having 
been the first missionaries among the Indians, at least in Pennsylvania ; and that, per- 
haps, the very first work translated into the Indian language, in America, was the trans- 
lation of Luther's Catechism, by Campanius. 

Notwithstanding Gov. Rising's disposition to live upon good terms with his Dutch 
neighbors, the Swedes were soured by the encroachments they had made upon their ter- 
ritory, in building a fort at Sandhuken, or Newcastle ; and, finding remonstrance useless, 
soon came to the determination to drive the Dutch back to the eastern side of the river. 
They accordingly, in the year 1654, took Fort Cassimir by storm, and expelled the Dutch ; 
after which, the fortifications were greatly strengthened and improved by the engineer, 
P. Lindstrom, and it was named Trefalldigheet, or Trinity Fort. 

The Dutch had too good an opinion of their own numbers and prowess, not to feel 
disposed to retaliate on the Swedes the injury they had received in the loss of their fort. 
Yet they went to work with caution, resolving, when they gave the blow, to make it the 
more felt from its being sudden and unexpected. There seems to have been a want of 
good faith, or at least the practice of some deception, on the part of the Dutch, as we 
are told by Campanius that ' the differences appeared to have been amicably settled, in 
the year 1654, between the Swedish governor, John Rising, and the Dutch governor, 
Peter Stuyvesant.' This amicable settlement seems to have been only a cloak to prepa- 



14 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

The country upon the Delaware, now entirely under the control 
of the Dutch, was governed by directors, who received their ap- 
pointment from the governor of the colony at New Amsterdam. 
The first who exercised the office was Johannes Paul Jaquet, who 
was succeeded by Peter Alricks, Hinojossa, and William Beekman. 
These officers granted lands, and their patents make part of the 
titles of the present possessors. At this period the Dutch acquired 
large tracts of country upon the eastern side of New Jersey ; and 
it may be reasonably supposed that there were some settlements on 
the road between the colonies on the Hudson and Delaware. 

The claim of the English, founded on prior discovery, to the ter- 
ritory now occupied by the Dutch, was never abandoned. As early 
as 1640, a number of emigrants from the New Haven colony set- 
tled on the left shores of the Delaware ; and it is said that some 
of their descendants are to be found in Salem, Cumberland, and 
Cape May counties. The attempts of the English to form settle- 
ments on the Delaware were resisted, both by the Swedes and 
Dutch. In one instance their trading-house was destroyed ; in 
others, their goods were confiscated and their persons imprisoned. 
These proceedings occasioned long and angry controversies between 
the New England and Dutch governments. 

In the year 10G4, Charles II. resolved upon the reduction of New 
Netherlands. Before any formal declaration of war with Holland, 
Sir Robert Carr, Col. Richard Nichols, and some others, with a 
small fleet and some land forces, were sent over to take possession 
of the territory. This expedition arrived before New Amsterdam 
the latter part of the year 1604. Stuyvesant, the Dutch governor, 
though a brave soldier, was, on account of the defenceless state of 
the place, obliged to surrender. Sir Robert Carr, with two frigates, 
was sent to compel the submission of the colony on the Delaware ; 
" which he effected with the expenditure of two barrels of powder 
and twenty shot." 

Immediately upon the subjection of the Dutch, and even before 
this had been accomplished, Charles, the English king, made an 
extensive grant of territory to his brother, the Duke of York. This 
was done by a royal charter, dated 20th of March, 1664. Upon 
the 23d of June, in the same year, the duke conveyed a portion of 
this territory to two other persons, Lord Berkeley and Sir George 
Carteret. The conveyance to these individuals was made by an in- 
strument in the form as follows : 

" This indenture, made the three-and-twentieth day of June, in 

rations for more effectual hostility ; for ' the next year, on the 30th of August, the Dutch 
sailed from Manhattan, or New Amsterdam, (now New York,) with seven ships, and 
six or seven hundred men, under the command of the said Stuyvesant ; and fell una- 
wares on the Swedish settlements.' Assailed under such circumstances, and by such a 
force, resistance was of little avail. One Swedish fort after another fell into the hands 
of the invaders, who ' laid waste the houses and plantations, killing the cattle, and plun- 
dering tlie inhabitants of every thing they could lay their hands on.' The officers and 
principal people were made prisoners, and carried to New Amsterdam ; while the Dutch 
retained possession of the country." — Clay's Annals of the Swedes. 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 



15 



the sixteenth year of the Raigne of our Sovreign Lord Charles the 
Second, by the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France, and 
Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith — Anno Domine 1664. Be- 
tween his Royal Highness James Duke of York and Albany, Earl 
of Ulster, Lord high Admiral of England and Ireland, Constable 
of Dover Castle, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Governor 
of Portsmouth, of the one part, John Lord Berkeley, Baron of 
Stratton, and one of his majestie's most honorable privy Council, 
and Sir George Carteret of Sattrum in the County of Devon, 
Knight, and one of his majestie's most honorable privy Council, of 
the other part, Witnesseth that said James Duke of York, for and 
in consideration of the sum of ten shillings of lawful money of 
England, to him in hand paid, by these presents doth bargain and 
sell unto the said John Lord Berkeley and Sir George' Carteret, all 
that tract of land adjacent to New England, and lying and being 
to the westward of Long Island. Bounded on the east part by the 
main sea, and part by Hudson's river, and hath upon the west Dela- 
ware Bay or river, and extendeth southward to the main ocean as 
far as Cape May at the mouth of Delaware Bay, and to the north- 
ward as far as the northernmost branch of said bay or river of 
Delaware, which is in forty-one degrees and forty minutes of lati- 
tude, and worketh over thence in a straight line to Hudson's river — 
which said tract of land is hereafter to be called by the name, or 
names of Nova Cesarea, or New Jersey."* 

This appears to be the first instrument in which the bounds of 
New Jersey are regularly defined. In addition to the consideration 
of ten shillings, mentioned in the above agreement, there was to 
be a rent of " one pepper-corn," to be paid on the day of the nativity 
of St. John the Baptist, if legally demanded. " The two proprie- 
tors formed a constitution for the colony, securing equal privileges 
and liberty of conscience to all, and appointed Philip Carteret 
governor. He came over in 1665, fixed the seat of government at 
Elizabethtown, purchased land of the Indians, and sent agents in- 
to New England to invite settlers from that quarter. The terms 
offered were so favorable, that many accepted the invitation." 

The constitution granted by Berkeley and Carteret was the first 
constitution of New Jersey, and it continued entire till the province 
became divided, in ] 676. This instrument was entitled " The con- 
cessions and agreement of the Lords Proprietors of the province of 
New Ccesarea or New Jersey, to and with all and every of the new 
adventurers, and all such as shall settle or plant there." The fol- 
lowing items, &c, are extracts : 

" 9. Item. That the inhabitants being freemen, or chief agents to others of the prov- 
ince aforesaid ; do, as soon as this our commission shall arrive, by virtue of a writ, in 
our names, by the governor, to be for the present (until our seal comes) sealed and signed, 
make choice of twelve deputies or representatives, from amongst themselves ; who being 
chosen, are to join with the said governor and council, for the making of such laws, or- 

* It is said the name was given in compliment to Carteret, who had defended the 
island of Jersey against the Long Parliament, in the civil wars. 



16 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

dinances and constitutions as shall be necessary for the present good and welfare of the said 
province : But so soon as parishes, divisions, tribes, and other distinctions are made, that 
then the inhabitants or freeholders of the several respective parishes, tribes, divisions and 
distinctions aforesaid, do by our writs, under our seals, (which we ingage shall be in due 
time issued,) annually meet on the first day of January, and choose freeholders for each 
respective division, tribe or parish, to be the deputies or representatives of the same : 
Which body of representatives, or the major part of them, shall, with the governor and 
council aforesaid, be the general assembly of the said province ; the governor or his dep- 
uty being present, unless they shall wilfully refuse ; in which case they may appoint 
themselves a president during the absence of the governor, or the deputy-governor. 
"Which assemblies are to have power, 

First. To appoint their own time of meeting, and to adjourn their sessions from time 
to time, to such times and places as they shall think convenient ; as also to ascertain the 
number of their quorum ; provided, the said number be not less than a third part of the 
whole, in whom (or more) shall be the full power of the general assembly. 

Secondly. To enact and make all such laws, acts and constitutions as shall be neces- 
sary for the well government of the said province, and them to repeal : Provided, that 
the same be consonant to reason, and, as near as may be, conveniently agreeable to the 
laws and customs of his majesty's kingdom of England : Provided, also, that they be 
not against the interest of us the lords proprietors, our heirs or assigns, nor any of those 
our concessions, especially that they be not repugnant to the article for liberty of con- 
science above mentioned ; which laws, &c. so made, shall receive publication from the 
governor and council, (but as the laws of us and our general assembly,) and be in force 
for the space of one year, and no more ; unless contradicted by the lords proprietors ; 
within which time they shall be presented to us, our heirs, &c. for our ratification ; and 
being confirmed by us, they shall be in continual force, till expired by their own limita- 
tion, or by act of repeal, in like manner to be passed as aforesaid, and confirmed. 

Thirdly. By act as aforesaid, to constitute all courts, together with the limits, powers, 
and jurisdictions of the same, as also the several offices, and number of the officers be- 
longing to each court, with their respective salaries, fees, and perquisites, their appella- 
tions and dignities, with the penalties that shall be due to them, for the breach of their 
several and respective duties and trusts. 

Fourthly. By act as aforesaid, to lay equal taxes and assessments equally to raise 
moneys or goods upon all lands, (except such as belong to us the lords proprietors before 
settling,) or persons within the several precincts, hundreds, parishes, manors, or whatso- 
ever other divisions shall hereafter be made, and established in the said province, as often 
as necessity shall require, and in such manner as to them shall seem most equal and 
easy for the said inhabitants, in order to the better supporting of the public charge of 
the said government, and for the mutual safety, defence, and security of the said prov- 



" And that the planting of the said province may be the more speedily promoted — 
First. We do hereby grant unto all persons who have already adventured into the said 
province of New Ca?saria, or New Jersey, or shall transport themselves or servants be- 
fore the first day of January, which shall be in the year of our Lord 1665, these follow- 
ing proportions, viz : To every freeman that shall go with the first governor from the 
port where he embarks, (or shall meet him at the rendezvous he appoints for the settle- 
ment of a plantation.) there armed with a good musket, bore twelve bullets to the pound, 
with ten pounds of powder and twenty pounds of bullets, with bandaliers and matches 
convenient, and with six months' provision ; for his own person arriving there, one hun- 
dred and fifty acres of land, English measure ; and for every able man-servant, that 
he shall carry with him, armed and provided as aforesaid, and arriving there, the like 
quantity of one hundred and fifty acres of land, English measure ; and whosoever shall 
send servants at that time, shall have, for every able man-servant he or she shall send 
armed and provided as aforesaid, and arriving there, the like quantity of one hundred 
and fifty acres ; and for every weaker servant or slave, male or female, exceeding the age 
of fourteen years, which any one shall send or carry, arriving there, seventy-five acres 
of land ; and to every Christian servant, exceeding the age aforesaid, after the expiration 
of their time of service, seventy-five acres of land for their own uses. 

Secondly. Item. To every master or mistress, that shall go before the first day of 
January, which shall be in the year of our Lord 1665, one hundred and twenty acres 
of land ; and for every able man-servant, that he or she shall carry or send armed and 
provided as aforesaid, and arriving within the time aforesaid, the like quantity of one 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 17 

hundred and twenty acres of land ; and for every weaker servant or slave, male or fe- 
male, exceeding the age of fourteen years, arriving there, sixty acres of land ; and to 
every Christian servant, to their own use and behoof, sixty acres of land. 

Thirdly. Item. To every freeman or free-woman, that shall arrive in the said province, 
armed and provided as aforesaid, within the second year, from the first day of January, 
1665, to the first day of January, 1666, with an intention to plant, ninety acres of land, 
English measure ; and for every able man-servant, that he or she shall carry or send, 
armed and provided as aforesaid, ninety acres of land, like measure. 

Fourthly. Item. For every weaker servant or slave, aged as aforesaid, that shall be so 
carried or sent thither within the second year, as aforesaid, forty-five acres of land, of 
like measure ; and to every Christian servant that shall arrive the second year, forty-five 
acres of land of like measure, after the expiration of his or their time of service, for 
their own use and behoof." 

A few years after Gov. Carteret began his administration, the 
colony began to be disturbed by domestic disputes. Some of the 
inhabitants, having purchased their lands of the Indians before the 
conveyance from the Duke of York, refused to pay rent to the pro- 
prietors. This, with other causes of dissatisfaction, produced, in 
1672, an insurrection among the people. The governor, Philip 
Carteret, was obliged to leave the province, and seek redress in 
England ; his officers were imprisoned, and their estates confiscated. 
The people now prevailed on James Carteret, a weak and dissolute 
natural son of the governor, to assume the government. 

In 1673, war having taken place with Holland, a small squadron 
was sent over by the Dutch, which arrived at Staten Island July 
30th. Gov. Lovelace being absent from New York, Capt. Man- 
ning, who had charge of the town, rejected the aid of the English 
inhabitants, who offered to defend the place, sent a messenger to 
the enemy, and struck his flag before their vessels appeared in sight. 
As the fleet advanced, Manning forbade a gun to be fired, under 
pain of death ; and surrendered the place unconditionally to the 
invaders. He was afterward tried by a court-martial, and plead- 
ed guilty to all the charges preferred. His sentence was as extra- 
ordinary as his conduct : it was that, " though he deserved death, 
yet, because he had, since the surrender, been in England, and 
seen the king and the duke, it was adjudged that his sword should 
be broke over his head, in public, before the city-hall ; and himself 
rendered incapable of wearing a sword, and of serving his majesty 
for the future, in any public trust in the government." 

The Dutch dominion, so suddenly restored, existed but a short 
period, as, by a treaty of peace the following spring, New Nether- 
lands, (the territory of New York and New Jersey,) so called by 
the Dutch, was again surrendered to the English. Some doubts 
having arisen as to the validity of the Duke of York's title, on ac- 
count of the Dutch conquest, he deemed it prudent to procure a 
new patent, including the same territory as the former. In 1674, 
Maj. Edmund Andross, so well known by his tyrannical usurpa- 
tions, came over as governor (under the Duke of York) of the 
province of New York. Andross also claimed jurisdiction over the 
Jerseys, insisting that the conquest by the Dutch divested the pro- 
prietors of all their rights. 

3 



18 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

In the commencement of 1675, Philip Carteret returned to New 
Jersey, and resumed the government of the settlements in the east- 
ern part of the province. The inhabitants having suffered some- 
what by the Dutch conquest, and the arbitrary rule of Andross, 
readily received him ; " and as he postponed the payment of their 
quit-rents to a future day, and published a new set of 'concessions' 
by Sir George Carteret, a peaceable subordination was once more 
established in the colony. These new ' concessions,' however, re- 
stricted the broad grant of political freedom originally framed." 

Much uneasiness, however, still continued, for several years,' on 
account of the efforts of Andross to enforce the duke's unjust pre- 
tensions. Gov. Carteret, in hope of obtaining for his people the 
advantages of commerce, attempted to establish a direct trade be- 
tween New England and New Jersey. This was opposed by An- 
dross, as being injurious to New York. He confiscated the vessels 
engaged in such trade, and went so far as to dispatch a force to 
Elizabethtown to arrest Gov. Carteret, and convey him prisoner to 
New York. 

Lord Berkeley, having become dissatisfied with the pecuniary 
prospects in his adventure in colonization, offered his share of the 
province of New Jersey for sale. His right or interest was pur- 
chased by John Fenwick and Edward' Byllinge, members of the 
Society of Friends. The conveyance to these individuals was exe 
cuted to the former, in trust for the latter, for the sum of one thou 
sand pounds. The tract thus purchased was afterward known as 
West New Jersey. In 1675, Fenwick set sail to visit the new pur- 
chase, in a ship called the Griffith. " Arriving after a good pas- 
sage, he landed at a pleasant rich spot, situate near Delaware, by 
him called Salem, probably from the peaceable aspect it then bore. 
He brought with him two daughters and many servants, two of 
which, Samuel Hedge and John Adams, afterward married his 
daughters. The other passengers were Edward Champness, Ed- 
ward Wade, Samuel Wade, John Smith and wife, Samuel Nichols, 
Richard Guy, Richard Noble, Richard Hancock, John Pledger, 
Hipolite Lufever, and John Matlock : these, and others with them, 
were masters of families. This was the first English ship that 
came to West Jersey, and none followed l'or near two years, owing 
probably to a difference between Fenwick and Byllinge." 

Byllinge, it appears, was the principal proprietor, as, after the 
purchase of West Jersey, an award was made, by which it was, 
determined that the whole should be cast into one hundred parts, 
ten of which should be conveyed to Fenwick, and the remaining 
ninety parts should belong to Byllinge. Not long after the de- 
parture of Fenwick for America, Byllinge, in consequence of losses 
in trade, was brought into difficulty, and rendered unable to pursue 
his plans. His property was intrusted to William Perm, Gawen 
Lawrie, and Nicholas Lucas, (all Friends, or Quakers,) to be used 
for the benefit of his creditors. " These trustees, under the pres- 
sure of circumstances sold a considerable number of shares of the 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 19 

undivided moiety to different purchasers, who thereby became pro- 
prietaries, in common with them. These proprietors agreed upon 
a form of government, comprising many of the provisions of the 
instrument formed by Berkeley and Carteret, together with others 
originating with themselves. The constitution or form of govern- 
ment thus made was entitled, " The concessions and agreements of 
the proprietors, freeholders, and inhabitants of the province of West 
New Jersey, in America." The following is an extract from this 
instrument, (chap. 3 :) 

" That hereafter, upon the further settlement of the said province, the proprietors, 
freeholders, and inhabitants, resident upon the said province, shall and may, at or upon 
the five-and-tvventieth day of the month called March, which shall be in the year, ac- 
cording to the English account, one thousand six hundred and eighty ; and so thence- 
forward, upon the five-and-twentieth day of March yearly, by the ninth hour in the 
morning of the said day, assemble themselves together, in some public place to be or- 
dered and appointed by the commissioners for the time being ; and upon default of such 
appointment, in such place as they shall see meet, and then and there elect, of and 
amongst themselves, ten honest and able men, fit for government, to officiate and exe- 
cute the place of commissioners for the year ensuing, and until such time as ten more, 
for the year then next following, shall be elected and appointed ; which said elections 
shall be as followeth : that is to say, the inhabitants, each ten of the one hundred pro- 
prieties, shall elect and choose one, and the one hundred proprieties shall be divided into 
ten divisions or tribes of men. 

" And the said elections shall be made and distinguished by balloting trunks, to avoid 
noise and confusion, and not by voices, holding up of the hands, or otherwise howsoever ; 
which said commissioners, so yearly to be elected, shall likewise govern and order the 
affairs of the said province, (pro tempore,) for the good and welfare of the said people, 
and according to these our concessions, until such time as the general free assembly 
shall be elected and deputed in such manner and wise as is hereafter expressed and con- 
tained." 

The constitution, of which the foregoing is an extract, is wit- 
nessed and signed in the following manner : 

" In testimony and witness of our consent to and affirmation of these present laws, 
concessions and agreements, we, the proprietors, freeholders, and inhabitants of the said 
province of West New Jersey, whose names are underwritten, have to the same volunta- 
rily and freely set our hands — dated this third day of the month commonly called March, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy-six. 

" Gawen Lawrie, Wm. Penn, Wm. Emley, Josh. Wright, Nicho. Lucas, Win. Haig, 
Wm. Peachee, Rich. Matthews, John Harris, Francis Collins, Wm. Kent, Benj. .Scot, 
-Tho. Lambert, Tho. Hooton, Henry Stacy, Edw. Byllinge, Rich. Smith, Edw. Nelthorp, 
John Penford, Dan. Wills, Thomas Olive, Tho. Rudyard, William Biddle, Robert Stacy, 
John Farrington, Wm. Roydon, Rich. Mew, Percival Towle, Mahlon Stacy, Tho. Budd, 
Sam. Jenings, John Lambert, Will. Heulings, George Deacon, John Thomson, Edw. 
Bradway, Rich. Guy, James Ncvill, Wm. Cantwell, Fospe Ontstout, Machgijel Baron, 
Casper Herman, Turrse Psese, Robert Kemble, John Corneliesse, Gerrat Van Jumne, 
Wm. Gill Johnson, Mich. Lackerouse, Markus Algus, Evert Aldricks, Hendrick Ever- 
son, Jilles Tomesen, Claas Jansen, Paul Doequct, Aert Jansen, John Surige, Tho. Smith, 
James Pearce, Edw. Webb, John Pledger, Rich. Wilkison, Christo. Sanders, Renear 
Van Hurst, William Johnson, Charles Bagley, Sam. Wade, Tho. Woodrofe, John Smith, 
Tho. Peirce, Will. Warner, Joseph Ware, Isaac Smart, And. Thomson, Thomas Kent, 
Henry Jenings, Rich. Wortsaw, Christopher White, John Maddocks, John Forrest, 
James Vickory, William Rumsey, Rich. Robinson, Mark Reeve, Thomas Watson, Sam. 
Nicholson, Dan. Smith, Rich. Daniel, Will. Penton, Will. Daniel, Robert Zane, Walter 
Peiterson, Anthony Page, Andrew Bartleson, Woolley Woollison, Anthony Dixon, John 
Derme, Tho. Benson, John Pain, Rich. Briffington, Sam. Lovett, Henry Stubbens, Will. 
Willis, George Haselwood, Roger Pedrick, Will. Hughes, Abra. Van Highest, Hipolitas 
Lefever, Will. Wilkinson, Andrew Shenneck, Lause Cornelious, Sam. Hedge, Will. 
Massler, John Grubb, John Worlidge, Edw. Meyer, Tho. Barton, Robt. Powel, Tho 



20 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

Harding, Matthew Allen, Bernard Devenish, Thomas Stokes Thnm no BW..I. t 
Marriott, John Butcher, George Hutcheson, Tho. Gardner Tho SJTm.SE f' ff 
- Paine, Eleazer Fenton, Samuel Oldale, Will. Blac^ta wSpJ T *?" 
John Paneoast, Francis Belwicke, Will. Luswal 1, Join sWdo^ SiH V ' 

Gruna Jacobson, Tho. Scholey, Tho. Wright, Godfrey Hancock Tnh P ' IfT^ 
Heulings, John Newbould, John White, JoL Robert^ 

The next business of the new proprietors was to effect a division 
of the province so that they might determine what part was to fall 
under their control This was concluded by a deed, between Sir 
George Carteret of the one part, and the trustees of Byllinge on 
the other, dated July 1st, 1670. The divisional line is thus defined 
by William Penn and his associates: « We have all that side on 
Delaware river from one end to the other ; the line of partition is 
from the east side of Little Egg Harbor, straight north, through he 
coun ry, to the utmost branch of Delaware river ; with all powers 
privileges, and immunities whatsoever. Ours is called New West 
Jersey; his is called New East Jersey." Penn and his associates 

W S 11 ^-^ 01 ° f "^ J6 A> iS8Ued a decEratTn fel! 
ting forth the situation in which they stood, and the designs they 
had in view. Their statements were so satisfactory, that many 

ror; o rF r riends. Ced t0 emigmte ' *"*"** — rS *^ 
"Among other purchasers of the West Jersey lands were two 
companies, one made up of some Friends in Yorkshire, (as hinted in 
the concessions,) the other of some Friends in London ; who each 
contracted for considerable shares, for which they had patents. In 
1677, commissioners (agreeable to expectation given) were sent by 

t e ST l Tf' W / th l° Wei t0 hu y the lands of the ^ives 5 to in- 
spect the rights of such as claimed property, and to order the lands 
aid out ; and in general to administer the government, pursuant 
to the concessions. These commissioners were Thomas Olive, 
Daniel Wills, John Ivinsey, John Penford, Joseph Helmslev, Robert 
Stacy, Benjamin Scott, Richard Guy, and Thomas Foulke> They 
came in the 'Rent, Gregory Marlowmaster, being the second ship from 
l^ondon, to the western parts. After a tedious pas^ge they arrived 
at Newcastle, the 16th of the sixth month, O. S. King Charles the 

^eW;"i, , ^ e ' pleaSUring ° nthe Thames ' ^me alongside, 
seeing a great many passengers, and, informed whence they were 

Thev l^ ed V^ Were all Q uak ^> and gave them his blessing. 
aW ju t 1F P as& i en ^ ers ' tw ° hundred and thirty in number, 

tations h :tl CrCek ' WherC the SwedeS had Some ^tiering habi- 
tations, but they were too numerous to be all provided for in 

sHlk e nnH° me 7 ere ° bliged t0 la ^ their beds and furnit *re in cow- 
stalls and apartments of that sort. Among other inconveniences 
to which this exposed them, the snakes were now plenty enough 
to be f r equently s een^pon the hovels under whic h they sheltered 

M.*i2dS feSL^^SS' t S - ? "r* died *\^™™;~Z^ 

ing-ground, but now a street "^ * Burlm S ton > » S round *PPropnated for a bury. 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 21 

Most of the passengers in this ship were of those called Quakers ; 
some of good estates in England. The commissioners had before 
left them, and were by this time got to a place called Chygoe's* 
island, (afterward Burlington,) their business being to treat with 
the Indians about the land there, and to regulate the settlements, 
having not only the proprietors' but Gov. Andros's commission for 
that purpose ; for in their passage hither, they had first dropped 
anchor at Sandy Hook, while the commissioners went to New 
York to acquaint him with their design ; for though they had con- 
cluded the powers they had from the proprietors were sufficient to 
their purpose, they thought it a proper respect to the Duke of 
York's commission to wait on his governor upon the occasion. He 
treated them civilly, but asked them if they had any thing from 
the duke, his master. They replied, nothing particularly ; but that 
he had conveyed that part of his country to Lord Berkeley, and he 
to Byllinge, &c, in which the government was as much conveyed 
as the soil. The governor replied, All that will not clear me ; if I 
should surrender without the duke's order, it is as much as my head is 
icorth ; but if you had but a line or two from the duke, I should be as 
ready to surrender it to you as you would be to ask it. Upon which 
the commissioners, instead of excusing their imprudence in not 
bringing such an order, began to insist upon their right, and stren- 
uously to assert their independency. But Andros, clapping his 
hand on his sword, told them that he should defend the government 
from them till he received orders from the duke, his master, to sur- 
render it ; he, however, softened, and told them he would do what 
was in his power to make them easy, till they could send home to 
get redress ; and in order thereto, would commissionate the same 
persons mentioned in the commission they produced. This they 
accepted, and undertook to act as magistrates under him, till fur- 
ther orders came from England, and proceed in relation to their 
land affairs according to the methods prescribed by the proprietors. 
" When arrived at their government, they applied to the Swedes 
for interpreters between them and the Indians. Israel Helmes, 
Peter Rambo, and Lacy Cock were recommended. By their help 
they made a purchase from Timber creek to Rankokas creek, an- 
other from Oldman's creek to Timber creek. After this they got 
Henric Jacobson Falconbre to be their interpreter, and purchased 
from Rankokas creek to Assunpink ;f but when they had agreed 

* From Chygoe, an Indian sachem, who lived there. 

t The deed for the lands between Rankokas creek and Timber creek bears date the 
10?/i of September, 1677; that for the lands from Oldman's creek to Timber creek, the 
21th of September, 1677 ; and that from Rankokas creek to Assunpink, the 10th of' Oc. 
tober, 1677. By the consideration paid for the lands between Oldman's and Timber 
creek, a judgment may be formed of the rest. It consisted of 30 matchcoats, 20 guns, 
30 kettles and one great one, 30 pair of hose, 20 fathom of duffelds, 30 petticoats, 30 
narrow hoes, 30 bars of lead, 15 small barrels of powder, 70 knives, 30 Indian axes, 70 
combs, 60 pair of tobacco-tongs, 60 scissors, 60 tinshaw looking-glasses, 120 awl-blades, 
120 fish-hooks, 2 grasps of red paint, 120 needles, 60 tobacco-boxes, 120 pipes, 200 
bells, 100 Jewsharps, 6 anchors of rum. 



22 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

upon this last purchase, they had not Indian goods sufficient to pay 
the consideration, yet gave them what they had to get the deed 
signed. They were, however, obliged to agree with the Indians 
not to settle till the remainder was paid. Having travelled through 
the country and viewed the land, the Yorkshire commissioners, 
Joseph Helmsley, William Emley, and Robert Stacy, on behalf of 
the first purchasers, chose from the falls of Delaware down, 
which was hence called the first tenth ; the London commissioners, 
John Penford, Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, and Benjamin Scott, on 
behalf of the ten London proprietors, chose at Arwaumus, (in and 
about where the town of Gloucester now is.) This was called the 
second tenth. To begin a settlement there, Olive sent up servants 
to cut hay for cattle he had bought. When the Yorkshire com- 
missioners found the others were like to settle at such a distance, 
they told them if they would agree to fix by them, they would join 
in settling a town, and that they should have the largest share, in 
consideration that they (the Yorkshire commissioners) had the best 
land in the woods. Being few, and the Indians numerous, they 
agreed to it. The commissioners employed Noble, a surveyor, who 
came in the first ship, to divide the spot. After the main street 
was ascertained, he divided the land on each side into lots ; the 
easternmost among the Yorkshire proprietors, the other among the 
Londoners. To begin a settlement, ten lots of nine acres each, 
bounding on the west, were laid out ; that done, some passengers 
from Wickaco, chiefly those concerned in the Yorkshire tenth, ar- 
rived the latter end of October. The London commissioners also 
employed Noble to divide the part of the island yet unsurveyed 
between the ten London proprietors, in the manner before mention- 
ed. The town thus by mutual consent laid out, the commissioners 
gave it the name first of New Beverley, then Bridlington, but soon 
changed it to Burlington. Some of the masters of families, that 
came in the ship last mentioned, and settled in that neighborhood, 
were Thomas Olive, Daniel Wills, William Peachy, William Clay- 
ton, John Crips, Thomas Eves, Thomas Harding, Thomas Nositer, 
Thomas Fairnsworth, Morgan Drewet, William Pennton, Henry 
Jenings, William Hibes, Samuel Lovett, John Woolston, William 
Woodmancy, Christopher Saunders, and Robert Powell. John 
Wilkinson and William Perkins were likewise, with their families, 
passengers ; but, dying on the passage, the latter were exposed to 
additional hardships, which were however moderated by the care 
of their fellow-passengers. Perkins was early in life convinced 
of the principles of those called Quakers, and lived well in Leices- 
tershire ; but seeing an account of the country, wrote by Richard 
Hartshorne, and forming views of advantage to his family, though 
in his fifty-second year, he, with his wife, four children, and some 
servants, embarked in this ship. Among the latter was one Mar- 
shall, a carpenter, particularly serviceable in fitting up habitations 
for the new-comers ; but it being late in the fall when they arrived, 
the winter was much spent before the work was begun. In the 






OUTLINE HISTORY. 23 

interim they lived in wigwams, built after the manner of the In- 
dians. Indian corn and venison, supplied by the Indians, was their 
chief food. These people were not then*much corrupted with 
strong liquors, but generally very friendly and helpful to the Eng- 
lish ; notwithstanding, it was thought endeavors had been used to 
make them otherwise, by insinuations that the English sold them 
the small-pox in their matchcoats. This distemper was among 
them, and a company getting together to consult about it, one of 
their chiefs said, ' In my grandfather's time the small-pox came ; 
in my father's time the small-pox came ; and now in my time the 
smail-pox is come.' Then, stretching his hands toward the skies, 
he said, ' It came from thence.' To this the rest assented. 

" Having traced this ship's company into winter-quarters, the next 
in course is the Willing Mind, John Newcomb commander : she 
arrived from London in November, and dropped anchor at Elsing- 
burgh — brought about sixty or seventy passengers. Some settled 
at Salem ; others at Burlington. Among the former were James 
Nevill, Henry Salter, and George Deacon, with their families. In 
this year, also, arrived the ' Flie-boat Martha,' of Burlington, 
(Yorkshire) — sailed from Hull the latter end of summer, with one 
hundred and fourteen passengers, designed to settle the Yorkshire 
tenth. Some masters of families, in this ship, were Thomas Wright, 
William Goforth, John Lynam, Edward Season, William Black, 
Richard Dungworth, George Miles, William Wood, Thomas 
Schooley, Richard Harrison, Thomas Hooten, Samuel Taylor, 
Marmaduke Horsman, William Oxley, William Ley, and Nathaniel 
Luke; the families of Robert Stacy, and Samuel Odas ; and 
Thomas Ellis and John Batts, servants,* sent by George Hutchin- 
son, also came in this ship. Twenty of the passengers, perhaps 
more, were living forty-five years afterward." — Smith's Hist. N. J. 

The following, extracted from a letter from Mahlon Stacy, one 
of the first settlers of New Jersey, to his brother Revell, and some 
others, is descriptive of West Jersey at this period. It is dated 
the 26th of the 4th month, 1680 : 

" But now a word or two of those strange reports you have of us and our country : 
I affirm they are not true, and fear they were spoke from a spirit of envy. It is a coun- 
try that produceth all things for the support and sustenance of man, in a plentiful man- 
ner ; if it were not so, I should be ashamed of what I have before written. But I can 
stand, having truth on my side, against and before the face of all gainsayers and evil 
spies. I have travelled through most of the places that are settled, and some that are 
not ; and in every place I find the country very apt to answer the expectation of the 
diligent. I have seen orchards laden with fruit to admiration, their very limbs torn to- 
pieces with the weight, and most delicious to the taste, and lovely to behold. I have 
seen an apple-tree from a pippin-kernel yield a barrel of curious cyder ; and peaches in 
such plenty that some people took their carts a peach-gathering : I could not but snrule 
at the conceit of it. They are a very delicate fruit, and hang almost like our onions that 

*Many that came servants succeeded better than some that brought estates : the first, 
inured to industry, and the ways of the country, became wealthy ; while the others, obliged 
to spend what they had in the difficulties of first improvements, and others living too 
much on their original stock, for want of sufficient care to improve their estates, have, 
jia many instances, dwindled to indigency and want. 



24 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

are tied on ropes. I have seen and known, this summer, forty hushels of bold wheat 
of one bushel sown ; and many more such instances I could bring, which would be too 
tedious here to mention. We have, from the time called May until Michaelmas, great 
store of very good wild fruit!, as strawberries, cranberries, and hurtleberries, which are 
like our bilberries in England, but far sweeter : they are very wholesome fruits. The 
cranberries are much like cherries for color and bigness, which may be kept till fruit 
come in again ; an excellent sauce is made of them for venison, turkeys, and other great 
fowl; and they are better to make tarts than either gooseberries or cherries. We have 
them brought to our houses by the Indians, in great plenty. My brother Robert had as 
many cherries this year as would have loaded several carts. It is my judgment, by what 
I have observed, that fruit-trees in this country destroy themselves by the very weight 
of their fruit. As for venison and fowls, we have great plenty : we have brought homo 
to our houses, by the Indians, seven or eight fat bucks of a day, and sometimes put by 
as many, having no occasion for them. And fish, in their season, are very plenteous. 
My cousin Revell and I, with some of my men, went last third month into the river to 
catch herrings ; for at that time they came in great shoals into the shallows. We had 
neither rod nor net, but, after the Indian fashion, made a round pinfold, about tvvo yards 
over, and a foot high, but left a gap for the fish to go in at ; and made a bush to lay in 
the gap to keep the fish in ; and when that was done, we took two long birches and tied 
their tops together, and went about a stone's cast above our said pinfold : then hauling 
these birch boughs down the stream, where we drove thousands before us, but so 
many got into our trap as it would hold. And then we began to haul them on shore, as 
fast as three or four of us could, by two or three at a time ; and after this manner, in 
half an hour, we could have filled a three-bushel sack of as good and large herrings as 
ever I saw. And as to beef and pork, here is great plenty of it, and cheap ; and also 
good sheep. The common grass of this country feeds beef very fat : I have killed two 
this year, and therefore I have reason to know it. Besides, I have seen this fall, in Bur. 
lington, killed eight or nine fat oxen and cows, on a market day, and all very fat. And 
though I speak of herrings only, lest any should think we have little other sorts, we have 
great plenty of most sorts offish that ever I saw in England, besides several other sorts that 
are not known there — as rocks, catfish, shads, sheep's heads, sturgeons ; and fowls 
plenty — as ducks, geese, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, and many other sorts that I can- 
not remember, and would be too tedious to mention. Indeed the country, take it as a 
wilderness, is a brave country ; though no place will please all. But some will be ready 
to say, he writes of conveniences, but not of inconveniences. In answer to those, I 
honestly declare, there is some barren land, as (I suppose) there is in most places of the 
world, and more wood than some would have upon their lands ; neither will the country 
produce corn without labor, nor cattle be got without something to buy them, nor bread 
with idleness — else it would be a brave country indeed. And I question not but all then 
would give it a good word. For my part, I like it so well I never had the least thought 
of returning to England, except on the account of trade. Mahlon Stacy." 

In a letter to William Cook of Sheffield, and others, Stacy wrote thus : 

" This is a most brave place ; whatever envy or evil spies may speak of it, I could 
wish you all here. Burlington will be a place of trade quickly ; for here is way for trade : 
I, with eight more, last winter, bought a good ketch of fifty tons, freighted her out at our 
own charge, and sent her to Barbados, and so to sail to Saltertugas, to take in part of 
her lading in salt, and the rest in Barbados goods as she came back ; which said voyage 
she hath accomplished very well, and now rides before Burlington, discharging her lad- 
ing, and so to go to the West Indies again. And we intend to freight her out witli our 
own corn. We have wanted nothing since we came hither but the company of our 
good friends and acquaintance. All our people are very well, and in a hopeful way to 
live much better than ever they did ; and not only so, but to provide well for their posterity. 
They improve their lands, and have good crops ; and if our friends and countrymen come, 
they will find better reception than we had by far at first, before the country was settled 
as now it is. I know not one among the people that desires to be in England again — 
I □ since settled. I wonder at our Yorkshire people, that they had rather live in 

servitude, and work hard all the year, and not be three-pence the better at the year's end, 
than stir out of the chimney-corner, and transport themselves to a place where, with the 
like pains, in two or three years they might know better things. 

I never repented my corning hither, nor yet remembered thy arguments and outcry 
against New Jersey with regret. I live as well to my content, and in as great plenty 
as ever I did ; and in a far more likely way to get an estate. Though I hear some have 



OUTLINE HISTORY 25 

thought I was too large in my former, I affirm it to be true ; having seen more with mine 
eyes, in this time since, than ever yet I wrote of. Mahlon Stacy. 

" From the Falls of Delaware, in West New Jersey, ) 
the 26th of the 4th month, 1680." \ 

" Sir George Carteret, sole proprietor of East Jersey, dying in 
1679, by will, ordered that province to be sold, to pay his debts; 
which was done accordingly, by his widow and executors, by in- 
denture of lease and release, bearing date the 1st and 2d of Feb- 
ruary, 1681-82, to William Penn, Robert West, Thomas Rudyard, 
Samuel Groome, Thomas Hart, Richard Mew, Thomas Wilcox, of 
London, (goldsmith,) Ambrose Rigg, John Haywood, Hugh Harts- 
horne, Clement Plumsted, and Thomas Cooper, their heirs and as- 
signs ; who were thence called the twelve proprietors. They, being 
together so seized, in this year published an account of their coun- 
try, a fresh project for a town, and method of disposing of their 
lands." The following items are extracts from the account re- 
ferred to above : 

" Second. The conveniency of situation, temperature of air, and fertility of soil is 
such, that there are no less than seven considerable towns, viz : Shrewsbury, Middletown, 
Bergen, Newark, Elizabethtown, Woodbridge, and Piscataway ; which are well inhabited 
by a sober and industrious people, who have necessary provisions for themselves and fam- 
ilies, and for the comfortable entertainment of strangers and travellers. And this colony is 
experimentally found generally to agree with English constitutions." 

********** 

" Fourth. For fishery, the sea-banks there are very well stored with variety of fish — 
for not only such as are profitable for transportation, but such also as are fit for food 
there ; as whales, cod-fish, cole and hake-fish, large mackerel, and also many other sorts 
of flat and small fish. The bay also, and Hudson's river, are plentifully stored with 
sturgeon, great bass, and other scale-fish, eels, and shell-fish, as oysters, &c, in great 
plenty, and easy to take." 

********** 

" Seventh. The land or soil (as in other places) varies in goodness and richness ; but 
generally fertile, and with much smaller labor than in England. It produceth plentiful 
crops of all sorts of English grain, besides Indian corn, which the English planters find 
not only to be of vast increase, but very wholesome and good in its use ; it also produ- 
ceth good flax and hemp, which they now spin and manufacture into linen cloth. There 
is sufficient meadow and marsh to their uplands ; and the very barrens there, as they are 
called, are not like some in England, but produce grass fit for grazing cattle in summer 
season. 

" Eighth. The country is well stored with wild deer, conies, and wild fowl of several 
sorts, as turkeys, pigeons, partridges, plover, quails, wild swans, geese, ducks, &c., in 
great plenty. It produceth variety of good and delicious fruits, as grapes, plums, mul- 
berries ; and also apricots, peaches, pears, apples, quinces, watermelons, &c., which are 
here in England planted in orchards and gardens. These, as also many other fruits, 
which come not to perfection in England, are the more natural product of this country. 

" Ninth. There is also already great store of horses, cows, hogs, and some sheep, which 
may be bought at reasonable prices, with English moneys or English commodities, or man's 
labor, where money and goods are wanting. 

" Tenth. What sort of mines or minerals are in the bowels of the earth, after.time 
must produce, the inhabitants not having yet employed themselves in search thereof; 
but there is already a smelting furnace and forge set up in this colony, where is made 
good iron, which is of great benefit to the country. 

" Eleventh. It is exceedingly well furnished with safe and convenient harbors for ship- 
ping, which are of great advantage to that country ; and affords already, for exportation, 
great plenty of horses, and also beef, pork, pipe-staves, boards, bread, flour, wheat, bar- 
ley, rye, Indian corn, butter and cheese, which they export for Barbadoes, Jamaica, Ne- 
vis, and other adjacent islands ; as also to Portugal, Spain, the Canaries, &c. Their 
•whale-oil and whale-fins, beaver, mink, raccoon, and marten-skins, (which tins country 
produceth,) they transport to England." 

4 



26 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

" Thirteenth. The Indian natives in this country are but few, comparative to the 
neighboring colonies ; and those that are there are so far from being formidable or inju- 
rious to the planters and inhabitants, that they are really serviceable and advantageous 
to the English — not only in hunting and taking the deer, and other wild creatures, and 
catching of fish and fowl fit for food, in their seasons, but in the killing and destroying 
of bears, wolves, foxes, and other vermin and peltry, whose skins and furs they bring 
the English, and sell at less price than the value of time an Englishman must spend to 

take them." 

********** 

" As for passage to this province, ships are going hence the whole year about, as well 
in winter as summer, Sandy Hook bay being never frozen. The usual price is five pounds 
per head, as well masters or servants, who are above ten years of age ; all under ten 
years, and not children at the breast, pay fifty shillings : sucking children pay nothing. 
Carriage of goods is usually forty shillings per ton, and sometimes less, as we can agree. 
The cheapest and chiefest time of the year for passage is from midsummer till the latter 
end of September, when many Virginia and Maryland ships are going out of England 
into those parts ; and such who take then their voyage, arrive usually in good time to 
plant corn sufficient for next summer. 

" The goods to be carried there are, first, for people's own use ; all sorts of apparel and 
household stuff; and also utensils for husbandry and building : secondly, linen and wool- 
len cloths and stuffs, fitting for apparel, &c, which are fit for merchandise and truck 
there in the country, and that to good advantage for the importer — of which further ac- 
count will be given to the inquirer. 

" Lastly. Although this country, by reason of its being already considerably inhabited, 
may afford many conveniences to strangers, of which unpeopled countries are destitute, 
as lodging, victualling, &c, yet all persons inclining unto those parts must know that, 
in their settlement there, they will find their exercises. They must have their winter, as 
well as summer. They must labor before they reap ; and, till their plantations be 
cleared, (in summer time,) they must expect (as in all those countries) the mosquitos, 
flies, gnats, and such like, may, in hot and fair weather, give them some disturbance, 
where people provide not against them — which, as land is cleared, are less troublesome." 

The plan and proposals of the twelve proprietors became quite 
popular, particulary among the Scotch, many of whom came over 
and settled in East Jersey. " The twelve proprietors did not long 
hold the province to themselves, but, by particular deeds, took each 
a partner: their names were James, {Earl of Perth) John Drum- 
mond, Robert Barclay, Robert Gordon, Aarent Sonmans, Gawen 
Lawrie, Edward Byllinge, James Braine, William Gibson, Thomas 
Barker, Robert Turner, and Thomas Warne. These, with the other 
twelve, were called the twenty-four proprietors : to them the Duke 
of York made a fresh grant of East New Jersey, bearing date the 
14th of March, 1682." 

At this period there were " supposed to be about seven hundred 
families settled in the towns of East Jersey, which, reckoning five 
to a family, were three thousand and five hundred inhabitants ; be- 
sides the out plantations, which were thought to contain half as 
many more." Philip Carteret continued governor of East Jersey 
after the " quinty partite" division, till about the year 1681.* The 
sessions of the assembly were mostly held at Elizabethtown, occa- 
sionally at Woodbridge, and once or more at Middletown and Pis- 
cataway. 

* His salary was generally £50 a year, paid in country produce, at prices fixed by 
law ; and sometimes four shillings a day besides, to defray his charges while a sessions 
was held. The wages of the council and assembly, during their sitting in legislation, 
was to each member three shillings a day. The rates for public charges were levied at 
two shillings per head for every male above fourteen years old. 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 27 

" Some of the first laws, as published by the legislature at Eliz- 
abethtown, were, in substance : That persons resisting authority 
should be punished at the discretion of the court ; that men, from 
sixteen to sixty years of age, should provide themselves with arms, 
on penalty of one shilling for the first week's neglect, and two for 
every week after ; that for burglary, or highway robbery, the first 
offence, burning in the hand, the second, in the forehead — in both 
to make restitution — and for the third offence, death. For stealing, 
the first offence, treble restitution, and the like for the second and 
third offence, with such increase of punishment as the court saw 
cause, even to death, if the party appeared incorrigible ; but if not, 
and unable to make restitution, they were to be sold for satisfac- 
tion, or to receive corporal punishment. That conspiracies, or at- 
tacks upon towns or forts, should be death ; that undutiful children, 
smiting or cursing their father or mother, except provoked there- 
unto for self-preservation, upon complaint of, and proof from their 
parents, or either of them, should be punished with death ; that in 
case of adultery, the party to be divorced, corporally punished, or 
banished, or either or all of them, as the court should judge proper ; 
that for night-walking and revelling, after the hour of nine, the 
parties to be secured by the constable, or other officer, till morning, 
and then, not giving a satisfactory account to the magistrate, to be 
bound over to the next court, and there receive such punishment as 
should be inflicted. That the meeting of the assembly should be 
always on the first Tuesday in November, yearly, and oftener if 
the governor and council thought necessary ; and that they should 
fix the governor's salary — the deputies of each town to be chosen 
on the first of January, according to the concessions. Any deputy 
absenting himself, at such times, was to be fined forty shillings for 
every day's absence. That thirty pounds should be levied for pro- 
vincial charges — i. e., £5 to be paid by each town, in winter- wheat, 
at five shillings a bushel, summer- wheat at four and six-pence, peas 
at three shillings and six-pence, Indian corn at three shillings, rye 
at four shillings, barley at four shillings, beef at two-pence half- 
penny per pound, and pork at three-pence half-penny. That no 
son, daughter, maid, or servant, should marry without the consent 
of his or their parents, masters, or overseers, without being three 
times published in some public meeting or kirk, near the party's 
abode, or notice being set up in writing at some public house near 
where they lived, for fourteen days before ; then to be solemnized 
by some approved minister, justice, or chief officer, who, on penalty 
of twenty pounds, and to be put out of office, were to marry none 
who had not followed those directions." 

Among the new proprietors of East Jersey was Robert Barclay, 
of Urie, a Scottish gentleman, who had adopted the sentiments of the 
Friends or Quakers, and was the author of the celebrated "Apology" 
in their defence. By the unanimous choice of his colleagues, he 
•was appointed for life first governor of East Jersey, under the new 
administration, with dispensation from personal residence, and 



28 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

authority to nominate his deputy. Thomas Rudyard was -appointed 
deputy-governor, and arrived at his government about the begin- 
ning of 1683. He was superseded, however, at the close of the 
year, by Gawen Lawrie, also of London, who had been one of 
Byllinge's trustees for West Jersey. The successor of Lawrie was 
Lord Niel Campbell, who was succeeded by Alexander Hamilton, 
Esq. 

About the year 1080, West Jersey, by the accession of many 
settlers, became somewhat populous. Samuel Jennings, having 
received a commission from Byllinge as deputy-governor, came 
over to West Jersey, called an assembly, and with them agreed 
upon a constitution of government, on the 25th of November, 1081. 
From this period, yearly assemblies were held, courts established 
in different places, and justice was administered in due course of 
law. The successors of Jennings in the administration of the gov- 
ernment were Thomas Olive, John Skeine, William Welsh, Daniel 
Cox, and Andrew Hamilton, who continued governor till the pro- 
prietary charter was surrendered to the crown. 

"The year 1G80 seems to have been a dangerous one in East 
Jersey, if the law then passed against wearing swords was prop- 
erly founded. According to that, several persons had received 
abuses, and were put in great fear from quarrels and challenges : 
to prevent it for the future, none, by word or message, were to 
make a challenge, upon pain of six months' imprisonment, without 
bail or mainprize, and a ten-pound fine. Whoever accepted or 
concealed the challenge was also to forfeit ten pounds. No person 
was to wear any pocket-pistols, skeins, stilladers, daggers, or dirks, 
or other unusual weapons, upon pain of five pounds' forfeiture for 
the first offence, and for the second to be committed, and on con- 
viction imprisoned for six months ; and moreover to pay a fine of 
ten pounds. No planter was to go armed with sword, pistol, or 
dagger, upon penalty of five pounds. Officers, civil and military, 
soldiers in service, and strangers travelling upon lawful occasions, 
were excepted. This law, for any thing that appears, is yet in 
force. 

" The settlers, in both West Jersey and Pennsylvania, about the 
year 1087, were put to difficulties on account of food; their crops 
having in great part failed. Several families had already spent 
their last, and were forced to subsist on what was spared by such 
of their neighbors as were better provided. These were few in 
proportion to the mouths to be filled. Some nigh the rivers had 
lived weeks upon fish : others were forced to put up with herbs ; 
but unexpectedly to many arrived a vessel from New England to 
Philadelphia, laden with corn, which proved an agreeable supply. 
This vessel meeting with a good market, others soon followed ; so 
that the settlers were not afterward exposed to the like necessity 
for want of food." 

The year 1701 was a memorable era in the history of New Jer- 
sey, on account of the disturbances and confusions that violently 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 29 

agitated the minds of the people. Each province had many 
and different proprietors, who promoted separate and intervening 
schemes and interests. To promote particular purposes, one party 
would have the choice and management of the governor, while 
another refused any but of their own nomination ; and a third 
objected to proposals from either. Discord prevailed, and every 
expedient to restore order, union, and regularity proved unsuccess- 
ful. The disorders in East Jersey made such an impression on the 
minds of many of the people, that they readily hearkened to over- 
tures made for a surrender of the proprietary government. A con- 
siderable part of West Jersey was also, for similar reasons, dis- 
posed to a resignation. The proprietors, weary of contending with 
each other, and with the people, drew up an instrument, whereby 
they surrendered their right of government to the crown, which 
was accepted by Queen Anne on the 17th of April, 1702. 

Immediately upon the transfer of the right of government to the 
crown, Queen Anne reunited East and West Jersey into one prov- 
ince, and intrusted its government, as well as that of New York, 
to her kinsman, Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury, grandson of the 
chancellor, Earl of Clarendon. The commission and instructions 
which Cornbury received formed the constitution and government 
of the province, until its declaration of independence. The new 
government was composed of the governor and twelve councillors, 
nominated by the crown, and an assembly, of twenty-four mem- 
bers, to be elected by the people, for an indefinite term, whose ses- 
sions were to be holden, alternately, at Perth Amboy and Burling- 
ton. Among the numerous instructions given to the governor was 
one directing him " to permit liberty of conscience to all persons, 
(except Papists,) so they may be contented with a quiet and peace- 
able enjoyment of the same, not giving offence or scandal to the 
government ;" also one stating that, " Forasmuch as great incon- 
veniences may arise by the liberty of printing in our said province, 
you are to provide, by all necessary orders, that no person keep any 
press for printing, nor that any book, pamphlet, or other matters 
whatsoever, be printed without your especial leave and license first 
obtained." 

At this period the province was supposed to contain 20,000 in- 
habitants, of whom 12,000 belonged to East, and 8,000 to West 
Jersey. The militia amounted to 1,400 men. The trade of the 
province was considerable. Its exports consisted of agricultural 
produce, which supplied the West Indies ; furs, skins, and a little 
tobacco, for the English market; and oil, fish, and other provisions, 
which were sent to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary islands. 

Lord Cornbury arrived in New Jersey in August, 1703. He con- 
tinued in the office of governor of New Jersey and New York 
till 1708; when the complaints of the people were such that the 
queen was compelled to revoke his commission. When deprived 
of his office, his creditors put him in prison in the province he had 
governed, where he remained till the death of his father elevated 



30 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

him to the peerage, which entitled him to liberation. " We never 
had a governor," (says a writer who knew him well,) " so univer- 
sally detested, nor any who so richly deserved the public abhor- 
rence : in spite of his noble descent, his behavior was trifling, 
mean, and extravagant. It was not uncommon for him to dress 
himself in a woman's habit, and then to patrol the fort in which he 
resided. Such freaks of low humor exposed him to the universal 
contempt of the people ; but their indignation was kindled by his 
despotic rule, savage bigotry, insatiable avarice, and injustice, not 
only to the public, but even his private creditors." 

John, Lord Lovelace, Baron of Hurley, being appointed to suc- 
ceed Cornbury, he summoned the council to meet him at Bergen, 
December 20th, 1708. The hopes entertained, from his exalted 
character, of a happy administration, were frustrated by his death, 
on the succeeding 5th of May. The administration now devolved 
on Lieutenant-governor Ingoldsby, who laid before the assembly 
the design of the crown respecting an expedition against Canada. 
" The assembly prepared three bills, one for raising £3,000,* an- 
other for enforcing its currency, and a third for the encouragement 
of volunteers going on the Canada expedition. These bills having 
received the governor's assent, the house was adjourned to the first 
of November, to meet at Burlington. In November they met ac- 
cordingly, but deferred business till December ; when they sat 
ten weeks, passed eighteen bills, were then adjourned, and after- 
ward prorogued, from time to time, till dissolved by Governor 
Hunter, in 1710." 

Governor Hunter commenced his administration in 1710, and in 
1720 resigned in favor of William Burnet, (son of the celebrated 
bishop.) and returned to England. " He had a ready art at pro- 
curing money: few loved it more. This foible, it is said, drew 
him into schemes, gaming, and considerable losses. Though not in 
all respects accomplished, his address here was engaging and suc- 
cessful : he assented to most of the laws the people wanted, and 
filled the offices with men of character. 

* Here began the paper currency in New Jersey. The care of the legislature respect- 
ing it, in this and all the succeeding emissions, being to render the funds for sinking, 
according to the acts that created it, secure, and to prevent the currency failing in value ; 
by changing the bills as they became ragged and torn, and allowing no re-emissions on 
any other account whatsoever. It has thence, from the beginning, preserved its credit, 
and proved of great service to the proprietors in the sale of their lands, and to the set- 
tlers in enabling them to purchase and contract, and pay English debts, and go on with 
their improvements. The securities, when issued on loan, were double the value in lands, 
or treble in houses, and five per cent, interest; but now (1765) there is none current on 
this footing. The funds for sinking, by tax, the money created for the expedition, and 
other purposes, are mortgages (secured in the acts that make the respective emissions) 
on the estates, real and personal, in the province ; hence they are secured as firmly as 
the province itself. They are a legal tender to all the inhabitants in the province, and 
elsewhere, but not to others, except while in the province. The remittances of this 
province to England, being chiefly from New York and Philadelphia, and the bills no le- 
gal tender there, they can never operate to the prejudice of English debts, let exchange 
be as it may ; because none there are obliged to take them. This is a particularity only 
belonging to the state of trade of New Jersey, and renders a paper currency there free 
from the objections usually made against it in England.— Smith's Hist. N. J. 



OUTLINE HISTORY 31 

Some of the most remarkable acts of the assembly, during Gov. 
Burnet's administration, were, that for the support of government, 
in which the salary of the governor was fixed for five years, at 
£500 per annum, and that authorizing the issue of £40,000 in 
bills of credit, with the view, principally, of increasing the circu- 
lating medium of the colony. The country, as the preamble to the 
act sets forth, had been wholly drained of a metallic currency ; 
and, as the paper currency of the neighboring colonies was not a 
legal tender in the payment of debts, much embarrassment was 
produced. The payment of taxes was occasionally made in broken 
plate, ear-rings, and other jewels : and the law authorized their 
payment in wheat. Forty thousand pounds, in bills in value from 
one shilling to three pounds, were issued by the government to 
borrowers, on the pledge of plate, or real estate, at five per cent, 
per annum. The whole sum was apportioned to the counties in 
which loan-offices were established : the bills were made current 
for twelve years, and were made a legal tender for debts. In 1730 
another act added £20,000 to this medium, and were made current 
for sixteen years. All these issues (although at one period they 
were at a discount of sixteen per cent.) were fully and duly re- 
deemed.* 

" Gov. Burnet, after this, continued to preside over New York 
and New Jersey, till 1727 ; when he was removed to Boston, and 
succeeded by John Montgomerie, Esq. He continued till his death, 
which happened in the summer of 1731. To him succeeded Wil- 
liam Cosby, Esq. He continued till his death, in 1736. The gov- 
ernment here then devolved on the president of the council, John 
Anderson, Esq. He died about two weeks afterward, and was 
succeeded by John Hamilton, Esq., (son of Andrew Hamilton, 
governor in the proprietors' time.) He governed nearly two 3*ears. 
In the summer of 1738, a commission arrived to Lewis Morris, Esq., 
as governor of New Jersey, separate from New York. He con- 
tinued till his death, in the spring of 1746. He was succeeded by 
President Hamilton. He dying, it devolved upon John Reading, 
Esq., as the next eldest councillor. He exercised the office till the 
summer of 1747, when Jonathan Belcher, Esq., arrived. He died 
in the summer of 1757, and was succeeded by John Reading, Esq., 
president. Francis Bernard, Esq., arrived governor, in 1758 ; was 
removed to Boston, and succeeded here by Thomas Boone, Esq., in 
1760. He was removed to South Carolina, and succeeded here by 
Josiah Hardy, Esq., in 1761. He was removed, and afterward ap- 
pointed consul at Cadiz." 

Gov. Hardy was succeeded in his office, in the spring of 1763, 
by William Franklin, Esq., the last of the royal governors, and the 
son of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. The year 1 763 was distinguished by 
a treaty of peace between Great Britain and France, by which 
Canada was ceded to the British king, and the colonies secured 

* See Gordon's History of New Jersey, pp. 94-96. 



32 OUTLINE HISTORY 

from the ravages of French and Indian wars, which had continued 
for more than half a century. When Mr. Pitt, the celebrated 
British minister, called upon the colonial government to make an 
effort to destroy the French power in America, " the assembly of 
New Jersey, instead of raising reluctantly five hundred men, doub- 
led that number, and, to fill the ranks in season, offered a bounty 
of twelve pounds per man, increased the pay of the officers, and 
voted a sum of £50,000 for their maintenance. They at the same 
session directed barracks to be built at Burlington, Trenton, New 
Brunswick, Amboy, and Elizabethtown, competent each for the ac- 
commodation of three hundred men This complement of 

one thousand men New Jersey kept up during the years 1758, 
1759, and 1760 ; and in the years 1761 and 1762 furnished six hun- 
dred men, besides in the latter year a company of sixty-four men 
and officers, especially for garrison duty ; for which she incurred 
an average expense of £40,000 per annum." 

At the commencement of the revolutionary period, New Jersey 
was among the foremost of her sister colonies in resisting the aggres- 
sions of British tyranny. Early in July, 1774, the inhabitants of 
the several counties of New Jersey assembled in their county 
towns, and passed resolutions strongly disapproving the acts of 
parliament — closing the port of Boston, &c. They nominated depu- 
ties to meet in convention for the purpose of electing delegates to 
the general congress about to meet in Philadelphia. The New 
Jersey delegates reported the proceedings of congress to the 
assembly, January 11th, 1775, by whom they were unanimously 
approved: "such members as were Quakers excepting only to 
such parts as seemed to wear an appearance, or might have a ten- 
dency to force, as inconsistent with their religious principles." 

The joint action of the colonies was opposed by their royal gov- 
ernors, who threw every obstacle in their power to prevent its ac- 
complishment. Gov. Franklin refused to summon the assembly, 
notwithstanding the petitions of the people ; therefore the first del- 
egates to congress were elected by a convention. The second pro- 
vincial convention met at Trenton, May 23d, 1775, and directed 
that one or more companies of eighty should be formed in each 
township, or corporation ; and, in order to raise necessary funds, 
imposed a tax of £10,000. The provincial congress of New Jer- 
sey reassembled August 5th, 1775, and directed that fifty- four com- 
panies, each of sixty-four minute-men, be organized. These troops 
were formed into ten battalions : in Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, 
Monmouth, Somerset, Morris, Sussex, Hunterdon, and Burlington, 
one each ; in Gloucester and Salem, one ; while in the counties of 
Cumberland and Cape May were independent light infantry and 
rangers. But the chief measure of this congress was the perpetu- 
ation of the authority which they had assumed ; they therefore re- 
solved and directed that, during the continuance of the controversy 
between Great Britain and America, the inhabitants qualified to 
vote should yearly choose deputies to the provincial congress, who 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 33 

now took upon themselves the management of the affairs of the colo- 
ny, relating to their rights and liberties. 

Gov. Franklin convened the legislature November 16th, 1775. 
He made an address, the prominent objects of which seem to have 
been to obtain from the assembly an assurance of personal safety, 
and a disavowal of all intention to proclaim independence. On 
the 6th of December he prorogued the house till January 3d, 1776, 
but it never reassembled ; and thus terminated the provincial legis- 
lature of New Jersey. 




[The above is copied from an impression of the original " Great 
Seal of the State of New Jersey," in the secretary of state's office, 
at Trenton. It is the one used at the present time, though much 
worn.]* 

The provincial congress of New Jersey convened at Burlington, 
June 10th, 1776. At this period the general congress of the United 
Colonies was in session in Philadelphia, and, on the memorable fourth 
of July, declared themselves independent of Great Britain. On 
the 18th of the same month the provincial congress assumed the 
title of the " State Convention of New Jersey." During the pro- 
gress of these events, Gov. Franklin was compelled to stand by 
an almost idle spectator, as the torrent of public opinion was too 

* The following- is the report of the committee appointed to prepare this seal : " The 
joint committee appointed by both houses, to prepare a great seal, beg leave to report — 
That they have considered the subject, and taken the sentiments of several intelligent 
gentlemen thereon, and are of the opinion that Francis Hopkinson, Esq.. should be 
immediately engaged to employ proper persons, at Philadelphia, to prepare a silver seal, 
which is to be round, of two and a half inches diameter, and three-eighths of an inch 
thick ; and that the arms shall be three ploughs in an escutcheon, the supporters Liberty 
and Ceres, and the crest a horse's head. These words to be engraved, in large letters, 
round the arms, viz : ' The Great Seal of the State of New Jersey.' 

"Princeton, 3d Oct. 1776. By order of the committee : Richard Smith, chairman." 

5 



34 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

strong for him to attempt to turn its course. He however, by pro- 
clamation of the 30th of May, summoned the house, in the name 
of the king, to meet on the 20th of June. The provincial congress, 
seeing the mischief of the measure, resolved, by a vote of thirty- 
five to eleven, that the proclamation of William Franklin, late 
governor, ought not to be obeyed ; and, as he had shown himself to 
be an enemy to the liberties of his country, his person should be 
secured. This was accordingly done ; and, by an order of the 
continental congress, on the 25th of June, the deposed governor 
was sent, under guard, to Gov. Trumbull of Connecticut, who was 
desired to take his parole, and in case he refused to take it, to 
treat him agreeably to the resolutions of congress respecting pris- 
oners. This request was immediately complied with. On his re- 
lease, he sailed to England, where he received a pension for his losses. 

The first legislature of independent New Jersey convened at 
Princeton, August 27th, 177G, and on the 31st of the same month 
William Livingston, Esq., was, in joint ballot, chosen governor of 
the state ; and, being annually re-elected, was continued in office 
for fourteen years. During his administration, the state was the 
theater of war for several years. In the revolutionary struggle, 
her losses, both of men and property, in proportion to the popula- 
tion and wealth of the state, was greater than any other of the 
thirteen states. When Gen. Washington was retreating through 
the Jerseys, almost forsaken, her militia were at all times obedient 
to his orders ; and for a considerable time composed the strength 
of his army. There is hardly a town in the state, that lay in the 
progress of the British army, that was not signalized by some en- 
terprise or exploit. At Trenton the enemy received a check, which 
may be said, with justice, to have turned the tide of war. 

In the summer of 1778, Sir Henry Clinton retreated, with the 
British army, from Philadelphia, through New Jersey to New York. 
The battle of Monmouth signalizes this retreat. The military ser- 
vices performed by the soldiers of New Jersey, and the sufferings 
of her people, during the revolutionary war, entitle her to the 
gratitude of her sister states. By her sacrifices of blood and trea- 
sure, in resisting oppression, she is entitled to stand in the foremost 
rank among those who struggled for American freedom. 

Gov. Livingston died in 1790, and in October of that year was 
succeeded in office by William Paterson. He was re-elected in the 
autumn of 1791. In the spring of 1792, he was appointed a judge 
of the supreme court of the United States, and on the 23d of May, 
in that year, he resigned the office of governor. Richard How- 
ell was elected June 3d, 1792, and continued in office till October, 
1801 ; when he was succeeded by Joseph Bloomfield. In 1802, 
there being no choice of governor, John Lambert, vice-president 
of the council, performed the duties of governor for that year. In 
October, 1803, Gov. Bloomfield was elected, and continued in office 
till 1812 ; when he was succeeded by Aaron Ogden ; who, in 1813, 
was in turn succeeded by William S. Pennington. In 1815, Gov. 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 35 

Pennington was succeeded by Mahlon Dickerson ; who, in turn, 
was succeeded by Isaac W. Williamson, in 1817. Gov. Williamson 
continued in office till 1829, and Garret D. Wall was chosen to 
succeed him. This gentleman, on the 2d of November, declined 
the appointment, by letter ; and on the 6th of the same month Pe- 
ter D. Vroom was elected. He continued in office till 1832, when 
he was succeeded by Samuel L. Southard. On the 23d of Februa- 
ry, Gov. Southard was elected to the senate of the United States ; 
and on the 27th of that month Elias P. Seeley was chosen in his 
place. In 1834, Gov. Vroom was elected governor, and in 1836 
was succeeded in office by Philemon Dickerson ; who in turn was 
succeeded by William Pennington, in 1837. In 1843, Gov. Pen- 
nington was succeeded by Daniel Haines. 



The following miscellaneous items of history, &c, will serve to 
throw light on the history of the times to which they refer. They 
are, for the most part, extracted from a series of articles recently 
published in the Newark Daily Advertiser. 

EARLY MORAL LAWS. 

" < Concerning the beastly vice, drunkenness,' the first laws inflicted fines 
of one shilling, two shillings, and two shillings and sixpence, for the first 
three offences, with corporal punishment, should the offender be unable to 
pay; and if unruly, he was to be put in the stocks until sober. In 1682 it 
was treated more rigorously : each offence incurred a fine of five shillings, 
and if not paid, the stocks received a tenant for six hours; and constables, 
not doing their duty under the law, were fined ten shillings for each neglect. 
This increase of punishment indicates a growth in the vice, which may have 
been attributable in part to the removal of restrictions on the sale of liquors 
in small quantities, which had previously been imposed. 

" In 1668 each town was obliged to keep an 'ordinary' for the relief and 
entertainment of strangers, under a penalty of forty shillings for each month's 
neglect ; and ordinary-keepers alone were permitted to retail liquors in less 
quantities than two gallons. In 1677 the quantity was reduced to one gallon. 
In 1683 ordinary-keepers were debarred the privilege of recovering debts 
for liquor sold, amounting to five shillings ; but whatever good this might 
have done was destroyed by the assembly authorizing others than keepers 
of ordinaries to retail strong liquors by the quart. In 1692, ' forasmuch as 
there were great exorbitances and drunkenness observable in several towns, 
occasioned by tolerating many persons in selling drink in private houses,' 
an attempt was made to establish an excise ; but the following year it was 
repealed, and the licensing of retailers confided to the governor. 

" The observance of the Lord's day was required, by abstaining from all 
servile work, unlawful recreations, and unnecessary travelling ; and any dis- 
orderly conduct could be punished by confinement in the stocks, fines, im- 
prisonment, or whipping. In 1704, under the administration of Lord Corn- 
bury, many of the early prohibitions were re-enacted ; but by that time, it 



36 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

would seem, the use of ardent spirits began to be considered necessary . 
keepers of public houses were not to allow ' tippling on the Lord's day, ex- 
cept for necessary refreshment.' 

" Swearing, or ' taking God's name in vain,' was made punishable by a 
shilling fine for each offence, as early as 1668, and such continued to be the 
law until 1682, when a special act provided that the fine should be two 
shillings and sixpence ; and if not paid, the offender was to be placed in the 
stocks, or whipped, according to his age, whether under or over twelve. 

" ' All prizes, stage-plays, games, masques, revels, bull-baitings, and cock- 
fightings, which excite the people to rudeness, cruelty, looseness, and irre- 
ligion,' were to be discouraged and punished by courts of justice, according 
to the nature of the offence. Night-walkers or revellers, after nine o'clock, 
were to be secured by the constable till morning; and, unless excused on 
examination, to be bound over to appear at court. 

" The resistance of lawful authority, by word or action, or the expression 
of disrespectful language referring to those in office, was made punishable 
either by fine, corporal punishment, or (as from 1675 to 1682) by banish- 
In 1676 all liars were included — for the second offence incurring a fine of 
twenty shillings ; and if the fines were not paid, the culprits received cor- 
poral punishment, or were put in the stocks." 



" The name of Mr. Basse is first met in connection with the affairs of New 
Jersey in July, 1697, when he was commissioned by ten proprietors as govern- 
or of the eastern province. He arrived the following spring — presented his 
commission to the council on the 7th April, and on the following day had 
it publicly proclaimed. His authority was immediately acknowledged, the 
fact not being then generally known that his commission had not received 
the signatures of sixteen proprietors, the number required to render it valid — 
which subsequently, with other reasons for opposition, rendered his continu- 
ance in office impracticable. The common seal of the twenty-four had for 
one of its mottoes, " Righteousness exalteth a Nation ;" and, judging from 
a proclamation issued at the time his commission was published, Governor 
Basse appears to have entered upon the discharge of his duties with proper 
views of the truth of the sentiment, and the necessity for vigilance on the 
part of the executive in upholding the measures best calculated to insure 
the growth of morality and religion among the people. This proclamation, 
which the writer believes has never appeared in print, was as follows: 
" BY THE GOVERNOR— A PROCLAMATION. 

" It being very necessary, for the good and propriety of this province, that our princi- 
pal care be, in obedience to the laws of God and the wholesome laws of this prov- 
ince, to endeavor as much as in us lycth the extirpation of all sorts of looseness and 
prophanUy, and to unite and join in the fear and love of God and of one another, that by 
the religious and virtuous carriage and behavior of every one in his respective station 
and calling, all heats and animosities and dissensions may vanish, and the blessing of 
Almighty God accompany our honest and lawful endeavors, and that we may join our 
affections in the true support of his majesty's government over us, who has so often and so 
generously exposed his royal person to imminent danger to redeem us from the growing 
power of popery and arbitrary government, and hath, by a singular blessing attending 
his endeavors, procured our deliverance and a happy and honorable peace, and is a great 
example and encourager of religion and virtuous living, — I have therefore thought fit, by 
and with the advice of the Council of this province of East Jersey, strictly to prohibit 
all inhabitants and sojourners within this province from cursing, swearing, immoderate 
drinking, sabbath breaking, and all sorts of lewdness and prophane behavior in word or 
action ; and for the true and effectual performance hereof, I do, by and with the advico 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 37 

aforesaid, strictly charge and command all Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs, Constables, 
and all other officers within the province, that they take due care that all the laws made 
and provided for the suppressing of vice and encouraging of religion and virtue, particu- 
larly the observation of the Lord's day, be duly put in execution, as they will answer the 
contrary at their peril. Given under the seal of said province this eighth day of April, 
Anno Dom. 1698, in the tenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William the third 
over England, &c. King J. BASSE. 

" By the Governor's command. 

"John Barclay, Dep. Sec y y <$• Reg'r." 



" Thanksgiving and Fast-days. — Although it does not appear that the de- 
scendants of the Puritans introduced an annual festival of thanksgiving into 
New Jersey at as early a date as did the good people of New England into 
their section of the country, yet special days were appointed, from time to 
time, on which to render homage to the Most High, for his overruling provi- 
dence and goodness, soon after the government became firmly established. 

" In 1676 the General Assembly designated the 2d Wednesday of Novem- 
ber to be observed as a day of thanksgiving, for ' the signal demonstration 
of God's mercy and favor towards us in this colony, in the preserving and 
continuing our peace in the midst of wars round about us, together with many 
other mercies, which we are sensible of.' 

" Nov. 26th, 1679, was appointed a day of thanksgiving, ' in considera- 
tion of the great deliverance of our nation from that horrid plot of the pa- 
pists to murder the king and destroy all the protestants ! and for the mercies 
of God to us in our province, delivering us from that infectious disease the 
small-pox, and other diseases, and from the trouble of the Indians, and all 
other of his mercies which we have received in the year past.' 

"June 11th, 1696, was a day of thanksgiving, by a proclamation of the 
governor, ' for the discovering of a most horrid and barbarous conspiracy 
of papists, and other traitorous persons, against the life of his most sacred 
Majesty,' William III. 

" These are all the thanksgiving days on record, but there are grounds 
for believing that others were kept prior to the surrender of the government 
by the proprietors. Under the royal governors the writer has observed no 
notice of a thanksgiving day before 28th Nov. 1750, and then not again un- 
til 24th Oct. 1760, < for successes in Canada,' and on 25th Aug. 1763. 

" The only fast-day that has been noticed previous to the Revolution was 
25th April, 1760." 

SLAVERY. 

" The introduction of slavery into New Jersey was coeval with its settle- 
ment. At least, no preventive measures were adopted, and it is doubtful, 
with the then prevailing views relative to the slave-trade, and the support 
extended to it by the British government, that any measures could have 
been devised foi its prohibition within the limits of the province, the legality 
of which could not have been questioned. But where were slaves not then 
found ? The mother country, for a century and more, had formally recog- 
nized their existence as property — the adjoining provinces possessed them — 
even New England was not exempt. 

" When, therefore, we consider what public sentiment was at that time 
in relation to slavery, there seems to be unauthorized harshness in the re- 
buke of Lords Berkeley and Carteret in Bancroft's History, (2d vol. p. 316, 



38 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

9th edition,) where he says, they, ' more true to the prince, (the Duke of 
York, President of the Royal African Company,) than to humanity, offered 
a bounty of seventy-five acres for the importation of each able slave ;' particu- 
larly as, by separating this bounty from the others with which it is connect- 
ed in the Concessions, an erroneous impression is conveyed ; the proprietors 
being impliedly charged with encouraging a direct traffic in slaves. But 
that such was their intention is very doubtful. 

" The Concessions were dated February, 1664-5, and offered as an induce- 
ment to each freeman who would go with Gov. Carteret, then soon to em- 
bark, or meet him at such place in the province as he might appoint, 150 
acres of land for himself, and the same quantity for each able man-servant, 
and 75 acres for every weaker servant or slave, over 14 years, carried with 
him or sent. Similar phraseology is used in specifying the respective do- 
nations for the emigrant during the ensuing three years, the quantity de- 
creasing each year, so that each ' weaker servant or slave, carried or sent,' 
the third year entitled his or her master to only 30 acres, instead of 75. 
This decrease alone is an indication that subserviency to the duke Avas 
less their object, than to encourage the rapid translation of settlers and la- 
borers to their province. The grants of land promised for those servants 
or slaves, taken at once, certainly could not have applied to such of the 
latter as were not then actually held to service in England or Scotland, and 
there is nothing to prove that the grants for subsequent years had reference 
to any other, but rather to the reverse.* 

" Whether any slaves were actually brought to New Jersey under these 
Concessions, is uncertain ; but if so, they must have been few in number, 
and after the provinces passed into the hands of subsequent proprietors, it is 
very doubtful that any were introduced. The East Jersey records through- 
out do not designate any of the ' servants' brought over as ' slaves,' and in 
all documents referring to the distribution of land, the word is no longer 
made use of, which would not have been the case had there been slaves to 
receive a less quantity per head than other servants. It is evident, there- 
fore, that the proprietors cannot with any certainty be charged with encourag- 
ing, particularly, the importation of slaves at the period of settlement, al- 
though there can be no doubt of the existence of slavery in the province 
before it was transferred to the royal governors, for as early as 1696, the 
Quakers of New Jersey united with those of Pennsylvania to recommend to 
their own sect, the propriety of no longer employing slaves, or at least, to 
cease from further importation of them ; but it does not appear that the ex- 
ample was followed by other classes or denominations of Christians. — (Gor- 
don's New Jersey.) 

" The instructions to Lord Cornbury from her majesty Queen Anne, were 
of such a character, that any disposition felt to put a stop to the traffic in 
slaves must have been effectually checked. The Royal African Company 
was particularly brought to the notice of the governor as deserving his en- 
couragement, and the instructions then proceed : ' And whereas we are 
willing to recommend unto the said company, that the said province may 
have a constant and sufficient supply of merchantable negroes, at moderate 
rates, in money or commodities ; so you are to take especial care that pay- 
ment be duly made, and within a competent time, according to agreement.' 

* " The Concessions of the West Jersey proprietors were very similarly worded, but 
* or slaves' were omitted." 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 39 

* And you are to take care that there be no trading from our said province 
to any place in Africa within the charter of the Royal African Company, 
otherwise than prescribed by an act of parliament, entitled an act to settle 
the trade of Africa. And you are yearly to give unto us an account of 
what number of negroes our said province is yearly supplied with, and at 
what rates.' — (Smith's New Jersey, p. 254.) 

" The returns, here directed to be made, if they are yet preserved in the 
archives of England, can alone determine to what extent the traffic was en- 
gaged in by the people of New Jersey. The writer has heard of barracks 
of considerable size that once stood in Perth Amboy, in which the slaves were 
immured as imported ; and there, as in almost every place, the labor of 
families, with very few exceptions, was exclusively performed by blacks for 
many years previous to the revolution. In 1757, a young gentleman in 
England, writing to his father in New Jersey, begs that he may be favored 
with a young negro boy to present to a brother of the then Duke of Grafton, 
to whom he was under obligations, as ' a present of that kind' would be very 
acceptable. 

" There are notices to be found of two or three ' risings' that disturbed 
the peace of the province. One occurred in the eastern division, in the vi- 
cinity of the Raritan, early in the year 1734, in consequence of which one 
negro (if not more) was hung. The design of the insurrection was to ob- 
tain their freedom, (kept from them they believed contrary to the express 
directions of the king,) by a general massacre, and then join the Indians in 
the interest of the French. That they were at that time numerous in the 
province is pretty evident, as is also the fact that, although generally treated 
with kindness and humanity, there was a severity of discipline and rigor of 
law exercised towards them which must ever exist to a greater or less de- 
gree wherever slavery is found. The newspapers contain frequent allusions 
to crimes and punishments in which the offence and its consequence are 
brought into astonishing proximity, burning alive being a punishment fre- 
quently resorted to.* Perth Amboy was the scene of one of these judicial 
murders on the 5th July, 1750, the victims, two in number, suffering in two 
weeks after the commission of their offence, which was the murder of their 
mistress. The negroes were all summoned from their several homes to wit- 
ness the execution, in order that they might be deterred from similar enor- 
mities, and the day was long remembered. 

" The act under which these and other negroes were tried and condemned 
was passed in March, 1714, which provided for trials for murder and other 
capital offences before three or more justices and five principal freeholders 
of the county, the pains of death to be suffered ' in such manner as the ag- 
gravation or enormity of their crimes (in the judgment of the said justices 
and freeholders) shall merit and require;' (Neville's Laws, I. p. 19:) and 
although the mode of trial was changed in 1768, even then the manner in 
which death should be inflicted was not specified. 

" In 1772 an insurrection was anticipated, but was prevented by due pre- 
cautionary measures. In connection with this ' rising,' a sort of colonization 
abolitionist made his appearance in the public prints, urging the passage 

* " An instance of this is recorded in the New York Gazette of 28th January, 1733. 
A negro attempted an assault upon a white woman on Friday 20th ; he was tried, con- 
victed by summary process, and was burnt alive on Thursday 26th. In 1741, the "ne- 
gro plot," which had its existence only in the panic-stricken minds of the people of 
New York, caused many executions both by hanging and burning. 



40 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

of a law, by parliament, obliging the owners of slaves to send them all back 
to Africa at their own expense. Z-— 

" In 1713 an act was passed, for a limited period, levying a duty upon 
every negro imported, which was permitted to expire, and no attempt was 
made to renew the duty until September, 1762. An act was then passed, 
but, having a suspending clause, was, for certain reasons, never laid before 
the king by the lords of trade. The duty it imposed was forty shillings in 
the eastern, and six pounds in the western division — an inequality obviated 
in subsequent laws passed in June, 1767, and November, 1769 ; — the for- 
mer was limited to two years, the latter to ten, and it consequently remained 
in force until the revolution severed the connection with Great Britain. 
The amount of duty laid by these acts was fifteen pounds proclamation 
money, to be paid by the purchaser of every slave. 

"On the 24 February, 1820, the act was passed which gave freedom to 
every child born of slave parents subsequent to 4th of July, 1804, the males 
on arriving at twenty-five years, and the females at twenty-one years of 
age ; and under the operation of this act slavery has almost disappeared 
from the state of New Jersey. Previous to its passage the number of slaves 
had materially diminished. There were in the state in 



1790 11,428 

1800 12,422 

1810 10,851 



1829 7,557 

1830 2,254 

1840... 674' 



BOUNTIES ON WILD BEASTS. 

" In June, 1682, a bounty of fifteen shillings per head for wolves was 
oflfered by each county, and fifteen shillings additional were paid by the 
town within whose limits the animals might be killed ; excepting the towns" 
in Somerset, where seven shillings were paid. In 1695 these bounties were 
repealed, and it was left to the discretion of each town to adopt such measures 
as might be necessary to exterminate the wolves. 

" General legislation, however, was again resorted to, in March, 1714, 
and the bounty was extended to panthers and red foxes. A certificate for 
the heads of three of the latter is in the possession of the writer, worded as 
follows : 

" ' These are to Certifie That Thomas Warn hath brought unto me the 
heads of two Red Foxes, and William Carhart one, from which the eares 
were Cutt off as the Law Requires, for which you are to pay to them as by 
Law appointed. Witness my hand this twelfth day of February Anno 
Domini 1714 5. THOMAS GORDON, Just. & Quo. 

" ' To Col. Parker, Collector of the County of Middlesex, these.' 

" In July, 1730, another law was passed repealing this, so far as the 
foxes were concerned, and fixing the bounty for a full-grown wolf at twen- 
ty shillings ; for a ' whelp not able to prey,' five ; and for panthers, fifteen 
shillings. But these being found insufficient, they were increased, in 1751, 
to sixty shillings for wolves, and ten shillings for whelps." 



THE FISHERIES. 

" The advantages afforded by the fisheries of the province were always 
dwelt upon, in the various publications of the proprietors ; and whaling es- 
pecially was expected to prove exceedingly profitable. Samuel Groome, 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 41 

in order to effect the establishment of this branch of commerce, was very 
anxious for a speedy arrangement with the Indians, whereby the lands near 
Barnegat might be secured ; and along the whole coast whales and seals 
were frequently seen, the latter venturing even into the harbor of Amboy. 
Vanderdonck, in his ' Description of the New Netherlands,' says the whales 
would not compare in fatness with those of Greenland, but they ' are nu- 
merous in the winter on the coast and in the bay, where they frequently 
ground on the shoals and bars.' De Vries, however, who engaged in the 
whale-fishery during one of his voyages on the coast, in 1632-33, pro- 
nounced the business an unprofitable one. 

" Previous to the purchase by the twenty-four proprietors, attempts were 
made to establish the whale-fishery on a permanent footing ; but with what 
success is uncertain. On the 15th February, 1668, a commission was 
granted to a company in Elizabethtown to take whales, &c, for three 
years, and all other persons prohibited from doing so, for one-twentieth part 
of the oil in casks ; and should Staten Island fall within the province, a town 
for twenty-four families was to be granted the company, at some convenient 
place. While this grant was in force, a whale was cast ashore at Never- 
sink, and delivered up to the company. On the 14th February, 1678, a 
similar commission was granted to another company at the same place. 

" In 1684, we are told that some persons were engaged in ' whaling upon 
the coast,' and that large quantities of fish were caught in all the rivers 
with long sives, or nets ; and that one sive would secure from one to two 
barrels of fish, which the inhabitants salted for their own use. Gawen 
Laurie was instructed to encourage the whale-fishery ; and, for fear that 
fishermen might be drawn elsewhere, he was authorized to make use of the 
proprietors' effects in furthering the object. We have no information, how- 
ever, of any particular movement toward its establishment at that time ; and 
it appears subsequently to have ceased being regarded as a business spe- 
cially adapted to the inhabitants of the province. The writer has in his 
possession, however, a letter dated at Amboy, July 4th, 1755, in which the 
arrival of a sloop, with one whale, is alluded to, in terms that indicate her 
having been out on a regular whaling voyage." 



ROADS, TRAVELLING, ETC. 

" Previous to 1675 and 1676, when the legislature adopted some general 
regulations for the opening of roads, the only road laid out by Europeans, 
within the limits of New Jersey, appears to have been that by which the 
Dutch at New Amsterdam communicated with the settlements on the Dela- 
ware. It ran from Elizabethtown Point, or its neighborhood, to where New 
Brunswick now stands ; and was probably the same as that now (widened 
and improved) known as the ' old road' between those places. At New 
Brunswick, the river was forded at low water, and the road thence ran al- 
most in a straight line to the Delaware, (above where Trenton is now situ- 
ated,) which was also forded. This was called the ' upper road,' to distin- 
guish it from ihe 'lower road,' which branched off about five or six miles 
from the Raritan, took a sweep toward the east, and arrived at the Delaware 
at the site of the present Burlington. These roads, however, were very 
little more than foot-paths, and so continued for many years, affording facil- 
ities to horsemen and pedestrians principally. Even as late as 1716, when 
a ferry had been established at New Brunswick for twenty years, provision 
was only made, in the rates allowed by the assembly, for ' horse and man,' 

6 



42 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

and 'single person.' Previous to that time, however, the road had been im- 
proved, and was considered the main thoroughfare to Pennsylvania ; for, in 
1695, the innkeepers at Piscataway, Woodbridge, and Elizabethtown, were 
made subject to taxation, for five years, to prevent its ' falling into decay.' 
The sum required annually to keep this road in repair, at that time, was 
only ten pounds. An opposition road was opened by the proprietaries, in 
the hope of drawing the principal travelling to their seat of government ; 
but without success. They express a wish to Deputy-governor Laurie, in 
July, 1683, that ' it might be discovered whether there may not a convenient 
road be found betwixt Perthtown (Perth Amboy) and Burlington, for the en- 
tertaining of a land conveyance that way.' This was done by Laurie the 
ensuing year, and he connected with the road a ferry-boat, to run between 
Amboy and New York, ' to entertain travellers.' Finding however that 
the other road continued to be preferred, Gov. Basse, in 1698, was directed 
to bring the matter before the assembly, and have an act passed that would 
' cause the public road to pass through the port-town of Perth Amboy, 
from New York and New England to West Jersey and Pennsylvania ;' but 
Basse's authority was of such limited duration that nothing was done. 

" Such were the two routes travelled between New York and Philadelphia, 
under the proprietary government; but no public conveyance for the trans- 
portation of either goods or passengers existed on either. One Dellaman 
was permitted by Gov. Hamilton to drive a wagon on the Amboy road, but 
had no regular prices or set time for his trips. 

"In April, 1707, the assembly, enumerating their grievances to Lord 
Cornbury, complained that patents had been granted to individuals to trans- 
port goods on the road from Burlington to Amboy, for a certain number of 
years, to the exclusion of others; which was deemed not only contrary to 
the statute respecting monopolies, but also ' destructive to that freedom 
which trade and commerce ought to have.' The governor, in his reply, 
gives us an insight into the facilities afforded by this wagon. After stating 
the difficulties which had previously attended the carriage of goods upon 
the road, he says, ' At present, everybody is sure, once a fortnight, to have 
an opportunity of sending any quantity of goods, great or small, at reason- 
able rates, without being in danger of imposition ; and the settling of this 
wagon is so far from being a grievance or a monopoly, that by this means, and 
no other, a trade has been carried on between Philadelphia, Burlington, Am- 
boy, and New York, which was never known before, and in all probability 
never would have been.' As none of the grievances suffered under Lord 
Cornbury's administration were removed until his recall, in 1710, it is prob- 
able this wagon continued to perform its journey 'once a fortnight' till then, 
if no longer. Soon after, however, the road seems to have been more open 
to competition. 

" The first advertisement respecting the transportation on this route, which 
I have met with, is in Andrew Bradford's Philadelphia ' Mercury,' of March, 
1732-33. It is as follows • 

" ' This is to give notice unto Gentlemen, Merchants, Tradesmen, Travellers, and 
others, that Solomon Smith and James Moore of Burlington: keepeth two Stage 
Wagons intending to go from Burlington to Amboy, and back from Amboy to Burling- 
ton again, Once every Week or offt'er if that Business presents. They have also a very 
good store house, very Commodious for the Storing of any sort of Merchants Goods free 
from any Charges, where good Care will be taken of all sorts of Goods.' 

" About this time, also, a line ran by the way of New Brunswick, and in 
1734 the first line via Bordentown was established, running from South 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 43 

river, the proprietor of which would be at New York ' once a week, if wind 
and weather permit, and come to the Old-slip.' 

" In 1744, the stage-wagons between New Brunswick and Trenton ran 
twice a week. 

" In October, 1750, a new line was established, the owner of which re- 
sided at Perth Amboy. He informed all gentlemen and ladies ' who have 
occasion to transport themselves, goods, wares, or merchandise, from New 
York to Philadelphia,' that he had a 'stage-boat' well fitted for the purpose, 
which, 'wind and weather permitting,' (that never-forgotten proviso,) would 
leave New York every Wednesday for the ferry at Amboy on Thursday, 
where, on Friday, a stage-wagon would be ready toproceed immediately to Bor- 
dentown ; where they would take another stage-boat to Philadelphia — nothing 
being said (very wisely) of the time when they might expect to arrive there. 
He states, however, that the passages are made in forty-eight hours less time 
than by any other line. This was probably the case, for the route was so 
well patronized that, in 1752, they carried passengers twice a week instead 
of once, endeavoring 'to use people in the best manner;' keeping them, be 
it observed, from five to seven days on the way ! 

"The success of this line seems to have led to an opposition, in 1751, 
originating in Philadelphia; which professed to go through in twenty-four or 
thirty hours, but which nevertheless appears to have required the same num- 
ber of days as the other. Great dependence was placed upon the attrac- 
tions of the passage-boat between Amboy and New York, described as hav- 
ing a fine commodious cabin, fitted up with a tea-table, and sundry other articles. 

" In 1756, a stage line between Philadelphia and New York, via Tren- 
ton and Perth Amboy, was established, intended to run through in three days. 
This was followed, in 1765, by another to start twice a week ; but nine 
years had worked no increase of speed. The following year a third line 
of ' good stage-wagons, with the seats set on springs,' was set up, to go 
through in two days in summer, and three in winter. These wagons were 
modestly called ' Flying Machines,' and the title soon became a favorite 
with all the stage proprietors. These lines ran, I believe, by the way of 
Blazing Star ferry, and put an end to the transportation of passengers on 
the old Amboy route. 

" From 1765 to 1768, attempts were made by the legislature to raise 
funds, by lottery, for shortening and improving the great thoroughfares ; but 
without success. Gov. Franklin, alluding to them, in a speech to the as- 
sembly, in 1768, states that 'even those which lie between the two principal 
trading cities in North America are seldom passable, without danger or dif- 
ficulty.' Such being the condition of the roads, it was a great improvement 
to have John Mersereau's ' flying machine,' in 1772, leave Paulus Hook 
three times a week, with a reasonable expectation that passengers would 
arrive in Philadelphia in one day and a half. This time, however, was 
probably found too short, for two days were required by him in 1773-74. 

u The mails, being carried on horseback, moved at this time with rather great- 
er speed than passengers ; but they had been a long time acquiring it. To 
Col. John Hamilton, son of Gov. Andrew Hamilton, of New Jersey, (him- 
self at one time acting governor, as president of the council,) were the colo- 
nies indebted for devising the scheme by which the post-office was established. 
This was about the year 1694. He obtained a patent for it, and afterward 
sold his right to the crown. It is presumed that an attempt was soon made 
to carry the mails regularly; but speed was little regarded. 



44 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

" In 1704, ' in the pleasant month of May,' a New York paper says, l the 
last storm put our Pennsylvania post a week behind, and is not yet com'd in.' 

" In 1717, ' advices from Boston to Williamsburg, in Virginia, were com- 
pleted in four weeks, from March to December, and in double that time in 
the other months of the year;' but there is some probability that the mails 
south of Philadelphia did not continue to be carried regularly some time 
thereafter. 

"About 1720, the post set out from Philadelphia every Friday, left let- 
ters at Burlington and Perth Amboy, and arrived at New York on Sunday 
night ; leaving there Monday morning, on its peregrinations eastward. 

"In 1722, a Philadelphia paper states that the New York post was 'three 
days behind his time, and not yet arrived.' 

" In 1729, the mail between the two cities went once a week in summer, 
and once a fortnight in winter ; and this continued to be the case till 1754, 
when Dr. Franklin became superintendent, and improved the condition of 
the post-office materially. In October, notice is given that until Christmas 
the post would leave the two cities three times a week, at eight o'clock, A. M., 
and arrive the next day at about five o'clock, P. M. ; making thirty-three 
hours. After Christmas, ' being frequently delayed in crossing New York 
bay,' (the route was via Blazing Star ferry,) it would leave only twice a 
week. Further improvements were made in following years, and in 1764, 
' if weather permitted,' the mails were to leave every alternate day, and 
go through in less than twenty-four hours ; and such was the rate at which 
they travelled until the revolution put a stop to their regular transmission. 

"In 1791, there were only six offices in New Jersey — Newark, Eliza- 
bethtown, Bridgetown, (now Rahway,) Brunswick, Princeton, and Trenton. 
The total of their receipts, for the year ending October 5th, 1791, was $530, 
of which the postmasters received $108.20 — leaving $421.80 as the nett 
revenue." 



FIRST PRINTING PRINTERS, ETC. 

" The first newspaper printed in New Jersey was the New Jersey Ga- 
zette, the publication of which was commenced Dec. 5th, 1777. Imprint — 
' Burlington, printed by Isaac Collins. All persons may be supplied with 
this Gazette at twenty-six shillings per annum. Advertisements of a moder- 
ate length are inserted for seven shillings and six-pence each the first week, 
and two shillings and sir-pence for every continuance ; and long ones in pro- 
portion.' It was printed on a folio sheet about one foot by eight inches. 
It was discontinued in 1786. Before this period, however, a magazine of 
some note was published at Woodbridge, in Middlesex county. It was 
styled ' The American Magazine,' was the first periodical in the province, 
and only the second monthly magazine of the kind on the continent. The 
first number appeared in January, 1758, and it continued to be issued 
monthly until March, 1760, when it was discontinued for want of patronage, 
and some years thereafter many copies were sold in sheets by the printer 
as waste paper. Each number contained about forty pages octavo, and in 
variety and interest it will compare with many modern publications in good 
repute. A history of America and a traveller's diary, were published in con- 
nection with each number, paged separately, in order to form distinct vol- 
umes at the end of each year. The appellation ' new,' was to distinguish 
it from its only predecessor, at Philadelphia, which, however, it superseded, — 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 45 

the publication being immediately relinquished on the appearance of this 
new competitor. The writer has never met with any of these magazines 
save in the New York Historical Library, and one volume which is in his 
own possession ; probably but few others exist. 

" The New American Magazine was edited by the Hon. Samuel Neville, 
of Perth Amboy, under the cognomen of Syhanus Americanus, and printed 
by James Parker ; and the two gentlemen who were thus instrumental in 
the introduction of a periodical literature into the province, certainly merit 
a place in the remembrance of Jerseymen. 

" Samuel Neville had received a liberal education in England, and pre- 
vious to his coming to America, had been editor of the London Morning 
Post. Even the few memorials that are now to be found of him, indicate 
the possession of character and talents of no ordinary kind. Becoming in- 
terested in the soil of New Jersey from a connection by marriage with the 
Sonmans, (who were large proprietors and deeply involved in the concerns 
of the province at one time,) he came over about 1735, and settled at Perth 
Amboy, then the capital of the eastern division. He soon rose to eminence, 
and became a judge of the court of common pleas, mayor of Amboy, (then 
no trifling station,) second judge of the supreme court of the province, and 
fdled several other important offices to the credit of himself, it is believed, 
and to the satisfaction of the government and the well-disposed among the 
people. He was a member at various times of the provincial assembly, 
and one of its strenuous supporters during the dissensions which occurred 
in Governor Morris's administration ; he was equally energetic in upholding 
the eastern proprietors in their difficulties with the rioters at Elizabethtown 
and Newark, and so exasperated were the latter against him in consequence 
of the ability displayed in protecting the rights of the proprietors, that threats 
of vengeance against him and his property were publicly made, — failing in 
execution, we have every reason to believe, not through any want of will on 
the part of those who made them. 

" In 1752, while holding the office of second judge of the supreme court, 
Mr. Neville published the first volume of an edition of the laws of the 
province, in 2 vols, quarto, under the auspices of the provincial assembly, — 
the second volume not appearing until 1761. This was a valuable service 
to the province, simplifying greatly the labor of subsequent compilers. On 
the death of Chief-justice Morris, he would probably have been raised to 
the vacant bench, but the infirmities of age rendered the performance of its 
duties impracticable. He died soon after, (October 27, 1764,) in the 67th 
year of his age, leaving a name unsullied by the slightest stain, so far as 
the writer can discover. His wife preceded him to the grave, dying in 1755, 
and their simple headstones yet mark their places of sepulture in the yard 
of the venerable Episcopal church at Amboy. They left no children. A 
stranger to his blood and family, out of respect to the memory of a man 
whom he conceived worthy of a place among the eminent men of other days, 
recently caused the spot where his remains were deposited to be rescued 
from the neglect and decay to which time had assigned it. 

" James Parker, the printer of the New American Magazine, was the son 
of Samuel Parker, of Woodbridge, and was born there in 1714. In 1725 
he was apprenticed to William Bradford, the first printer in New York, who 
in that year commenced the publication of the New York Gazette. From some 
cause, not now known, he ran aivay from his employer in May, 1733, and 
was advertised in the Gazette of the 21st of that month ; but we find him 



4G OUTLINE HISTORY. 

again in New York, in good credit, and at the head of an establishment 
himself in less than nine years thereafter, and fostering no ill-will towards 
Bradford, to whom, at his death in 1752, he gives an excellent character in 
an editorial article published in his paper. The New York Gazette having 
been discontinued by Bradford, it was ' revived in the weekly Post Boy,' by 
Mr. Parker, in 1742-3 : where he had been residing previously is not 
known. This weekly sheet of folio foolscap, ' containing the freshest ad- 
vices, foreign and domestic,' advertisements, &c, issued from his press for 
many years, and is now one of the few sources of original information, 
whence the antiquary and historian can obtain a knowledge of the ' olden 
time.' 

" In 1751 Mr. Parker established the first press in New Jersey at Wood- 
bridge, and from time to time printed the proceedings of the legislature and 
other official documents. In January, 1753, he commenced a partnership 
with William Weyman, which continued until January, 1759, he residing 
most of the time in Woodbridge, attending to the interests of the press there, 
which he conducted on his own account ; but the limits of a newspaper ar- 
ticle will not admit of an extended notice of Mr. Parker's business connections. 

" In 1752 the ' Independent Reflector,' edited by William Livingston — 
afterward governor of New Jersey — and others, was printed by Parker and 
Weyman ; but the fear of men in authority, whose ire might be excited by 
its independent character, led the former to decline the responsibility of its 
continued publication. Although he remained connected with the presses 
in New York, he resided principally at Woodbridge, where, in 1758, he 
printed the magazine which has been noticed. In 1755 a partnership with 
John Holt, (who subsequently removed to New York and attended to the 
business there,) led to the establishment of a press at New Haven, from 
which the ' Connecticut Gazette,' the frst newspaper in that province, was 
issued. 

"In 1761 he printed the second volume of Neville's compilation of the 
laws of New Jersey,* the imprint being ' Woodbridge in New Jersey. 
Printed by James Parker, printer to the king's most excellent majesty, for 
the province.' In 1762 the press in New York was leased to Holt, but 
Mr. Parker resumed it in 1766, in connection with his son, (Samuel F.) and 
it was carried on by them until a few months before the death of the father 
in 1770. In 1764 Mr. Parker compiled and printed a ' Conductor Gener- 
alis' for justices of the peace, he then holding that office in Middlesex coun- 
ty, and the following year moved his press from Woodbridge to Burlington, 
for the accommodation of the author of the History of New Jersey, (Smith,) 
but on the completion of the work it was returned to the former place 
Twice was Mr. Parker brought before the assembly of New York for 
printing matter reflecting upon some of the ' pillars of the state,' and 
obliged to give up the authors, to pay fines, be confined, &c. ; but, al 
though he may have been rendered more cautious, it is doubtful if hi? 
sentiments in favor of the rights of the people were changed by such 
logic. It would seem that he was ever an opponent to the oppression of the 
1 higher powers,' which in his day was too apt to be exercised. He died 
July 2d, 1770. 

* " Thomas, in his History of Printing, states that he printed these laws in 1752 : 
the first volume was given to the public in that year, but all the copies tiie writer has 
seen bear the imprint of ' Wm. Bradford, printer to the lung's most excellent majesty, 
&,c.' " 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 



47 



" He had been long an invalid, and obliged to retire from business in a 
great measure for a considerable time before his death, which occurred at 
Burlington while residing there for the benefit of his health. He was a 
correct and neat printer, understanding his business perfectly, and at his 
death his contemporaries gave him credit for possessing a sound judgment 
and extensive knowledge, for industrious habits, integrity, benevolence of 
heart, and fairness of character. His career was certainly one of great and 
extensive usefulness. He was for some years postmaster in New York, 
performing its duties while carrying on his business in that city, which, of 
itself, one would think, would have been sufficient to engross all his time — 
for no one, unacquainted with the avocations of a printer in these days, can 
form an idea of the time which was devoted to the service of his customers. 

" If a man had a horse or cow to sell — a house to rent — a vessel to freight 
— a servant to hire, &c, &c. — he referred to the printer ; and it is amusing 
to look over the columns of the Post Boy and see the strange variety of em- 
ployments, pursuits, wants, and notices, to which Mr. Parker was made a 
party. At the time of his death he was comptroller and secretary of the 
post-office for the northern district of the British colonies, and held several 
local offices. Great respect was manifested towards his remains on their 
way from Burlington to Woodbridge for burial. The New York Journal 
of July 5, 1770, states that 'his remains were attended for five miles out of 
Burlington by a considerable number of gentlemen of that place, and at 
Amboy met by a like number who attended the corpse to Woodbridge, where 
a numerous congregation assembled at his house, and about six o'clock he 
was interred near his parents,* in the meeting-house yard. The service was 
performed by the Rev. Mr. Preston, minister of the church at Amboy.' 

" The writer is indebted to Thomas's History of Printing — a valuable, 
though now a rare work on the typography of America, the only one on 
the subject — for most of the facts detailed in the foregoing notice of Mr. 
Parker. The most light, however, is thrown upon his character by his own 
newspapers and those of his contemporaries." 



PRICES, PROFITS, CURRENCY, ETC 

" From various sources, the following statements, relative to the value of 
produce, have been obtained ; those for the earlier years containing the 
prices established by authority : 



1668. 
Winter. wheat, per bush. 5s. 
Summer-wheat, " 4s. 6d. 
Peas, " 3s. 6d. 

Indian corn, " 3s. 

Rye, « 4s. 



1678. 


4s. 


6d. 1 


Is. 




•2s. 


6d. 


3s. 


6d. 



1668. 



Barley, per bushel, 4s. 
Beef, per pound, 2d. 
Do. per bbl. (1675,) 50s. 
Pork, per pound, 3|d. 
Do. per bbl. (1675,) 70s. 



1678. 
3s. 6d. 
2d. 
40s. 

3d. 
60s. 



"In 1675, tried tallow 6d. per lb. ; green hides 3d. per lb. ; dry hides 
6d. per lb. ; good tobacco 4d. ; good baeon 6d. 

" In 1677, ' ordinary-keepers' were authorized to charge for strong 
liquors, retailed by the gill, not exceeding 10s. 8d. per gallon ; per quart 
2s. 6d. Good wine was to be 7s. per gallon ; cider 4d. per quart ,* meals, 



* " The head-stone of the father is yet standing, but there is nothing to designate the 
apot where the remains of the first printer in New Jersey were deposited." 



43 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

each, 8d. ; oats 9d. per peck ; pasture of horse 6d. per day ; by the week, 
in summer, Is. 6d. ; in winter Is. 8d. 

" In 1684, Deputy Gov. Lawrie states that pork and beef were 2d. per 
pound ; wheat 4s. per bushel ; Indian wheat (corn) 2s. 6d. ; venison Is. 6d. 
per quarter, or Id. per pound ; eggs 3d. per dozen ; oats 20d. ; barley 2s. ; 
mutton 3d. per pound. Their currency, at that time, was one fiftli more 
than sterling ; to reduce the foregoing prices, therefore, to sterling money, 
one fifth must be deducted. Servants' wages were not under 2s. per day, 
besides victuals ; and at Perth Amboy, where buildings were going up, they 
were 2s. 6d. 

"In 1683, twenty-eight per cent, is stated to be the usual profit on goods 
brought from England ; but Samuel Groome observes, ' when I pay work- 
men and laborers, I pay them in goods rated cent, per cent., New York 
money. But then I must pay them two or three parts silver.' 

" The currency of New Jersey, throughout the whole of its colonial ex- 
istence, was of a much more stable character than that of the neighboring 
provinces ; so that we at no time meet with such a state of things as is de- 
scribed in the following extract from Madam Knight's Journal. She refers 
to Connecticut, in 1704. ' They give the title of merchant to every trader, 
who rate their goods according to the time and specie they pay in, viz : pay, 
money, pay as money, and trust. "Pay" is grain, pork, beef, &c, at the 
prices set by the general court that year ; " money" is of eight rials, or 
Boston-bay shillings, (as they call them,) or good hard money, as sometimes 
silver coin is termed by them — also wampum, (viz. Indian beads,) which 
serve for change ; " pay as money" is provisions, as aforesaid, one third 
cheaper than as the general court sets it ; and "trust" is as they and the 
merchant may agree for time.' Of course the price of evei*y article varied 
with the difference in pay. 

"In November, 1764, the heads of nearly fifty families, in and about 
Elizabethtown, entered into an engagement to retrench the usual unneces- 
sary expenses of funerals and mourning, 'as the giving of scarfs, gloves, 
and liquor, at funerals, and wearing black apparel as mourning ; nothing 
but a black crape round the arm being allowed for the future.' The follow- 
ing September, Thomas Clark, Esq., one of the judges of the county, was 
buried ' according to the new mode, none of his relations or friends appear- 
ing in mourning, and no liquor being given at the funeral.' This was one 
of the economical measures adopted in anticipation of the troubles of the 
revolution ; and in 1765 it was concurred in by the best families in New 
York, Boston, and Philadelphia." 

Continental Money. — " A witty old gentleman, who kept an account of its 
rapid depreciation, used to say that a fast-trotting horse could not keep pace 
with it. An old merchant, who preserved a scale of its depreciation, 
gave it as follows, to wit : 

Value of $100 in Specie, in Continental Money. 

1777. 1778. 1779. 1780. 1781: 



January, 


105 


325 


742 


2934 


7400 


February, 


107 


350 


868 


3322 


7500 


March, 


109 


370 


1000 


3736 


0000 


April, 


112 


400 


1104 


4000 





May, 


115 


400 


1215 


4600 





June, 


120 


400 


1312 


6400 





July, 


125 


425 


1477 


8900 





August, 


150 


450 


1630 


7000 






OUTLINE HISTORY. 49 

1781. 





1777. 


1778. 


1779. 


1780. 


September, 


175 


475 


1800 


7100 


October, 


275 


500 


2030 


7200 


November, 


300 


545 


2308 


7300 


December, 


310 


634 


2593 


7400 



Nothing J 

" From an original bill of my friend Col. Allan McLanc,* a purchase of 1781, to wit: 
Capt. A. McLane Bo't of W. Nicholls— 

Jan. 5, 1781 : 1 pair boots ...... $600 

6| yds. calico, at 85 ds. . . - - 752 

6 yds. chintz, at 150 d. - . - - 900 

4£ yds. moreen, at 100 d. - . - - . 450 50 

4 hdkfs. at 110 400 

8 yds. quality binding, $4 .... 32 

1 skein of siik ..... 10 



If paid in specie, £18 10a. $3,144 50 

Rcc'd payment in full, for Wm. Nicholls : Jona. Jones." 

" In 1682, the pay of members of assembly was fixed at four shillings 
per day, and the following year it was decreed that they should be fined 
Jive shillings per day when absent. In 1686, the pay was reduced to three 
shillings, to be paid in money, pork, or corn ; ' being desirous to ease the 
charge of the country in paying great salaries, as much as in us lies.' In 
1698, the pay was increased to Jive shillings, and councillors were to have 
six. The Bergen members were allowed pay for two days' travel, going 
and returning, and those from other counties for one day ; excepting the 
members from Woodbridge and Amboy, who received no allowance. The 
pay of the governor was at first only fifty pounds, with four shillings a day 
extra during the sessions of the assembly." 



REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES. 

"In November this year, [1737] came to these provinces, by land from 
Boston, (where he had arrived from London,) Sheck Scidit, a native of 
Berytus, in Syria, (about sixty miles north of Jerusalem.) He was said to 
be prince of Syria ; but the credentials he produced under the sign-manual 
and privy signet, called him Unus ex nobilibus civitatis Berytus ; having 
letters of safe passport, and recommendation to the charity of those where 
he passed. 

" He was reported to have suffered much for his religion in his own 
country, being by profession a member of the eastern church, though situ- 
ate under the Mahometan or Turkish government, and a tributary prince of 
that empire. His pretence was — 

" That a greater quota of soldiers was exacted from him than he was 
able to furnish, having other tribute to pay, and his country, by several 
years' distress from locusts, and blasts of other kind, so impoverished, that 
both quota and tribute could not be collected ; that the grand seignior taking 
umbrage at this, sent for his head ; of which he, by means of the Czarian 
embassador, having received private intelligence, fled to the Czarina's court; 
that in the mean time his country was seized, and his wife and children 
kept prisoners : while there, the Czarina gave him expectations, that in her 
treaty with the Turks, she would take care and provide for him when peace 
was made ; that after some stay at the Russian court, he obtained letters 
recommendatory to their embassador at London ; and being by this means 

* Father of the late secretary 6f the treasury. 
7 



50 OUTLINE HISTORY. 

taken notice of, he obtained the credentials aforesaid, with which he trav- 
elled through most of the corporations in England, where it was thought he 
collected two thirds or three fourths of what was due from him to the grand 
seignior ; but was nevertheless encouraged to come to America, where he 
also received considerable. 

"Contributions were made for him in New York and New Jersey ; he was 
everywhere received with distinguished respect ; it was said he received 
from the different congregations in and about Philadelphia, two hundred and 
fifty pounds. 

" He was a well-proportioned, lusty man, with a grave aspect, and 
clothed after the eastern manner, with a turban on his head, and wore 
whiskers, spoke and wrote the Arabic language ; his conversation and de- 
portment were graceful and easy, and seemed to bespeak him of a noble 
education. 

" At Philadelphia he met with a handsome entertainment, his expenses 
were borne while he stayed, and provision was made for him in the vessel 
he went." — Smith's History of New Jersey. 

"In the summer of this year, [1749] three natives of Greenland passed 
through the province, dressed in seal-skins, with the hair on after the man- 
ner of their own country ; they were two young men and a young woman, 
converted to the Christian religion by the Moravian missionaries : they had 
left Greenland about two years before in a Moravian ship, (which had car- 
ried a house ready framed, for worship, to be erected there, that country 
affording no wood for building,) and had since visited the brethren in seve- 
ral parts of Europe ; as England, Holland, and Germany. Their eyes 
and hair were black, like the Indians here ; but their complexion somewhat 
lighter. Two Indian converts from the Moravian mission at Berbiee, near 
Surinam, were also with them : they together went to the Moravian set- 
tlement at Bethlehem, in Pennsylvania ; there they met with some Dela- 
ware and Mohickon Indians, converts also of the Moravians ; and though 
their native lands are so vastly remote as the latitude of 5, 41, and 65 
north, yet what they observed of each other's hair, eyes, and complexion, 
convinced them that they were all of the same race ; they could find, how- 
ever, no similitude in their several languages." 

In November, 1726, " a small earthquake was felt; it began between the 
hours of ten and eleven at night." — Smith's History of New Jersey. 

September 5th, 1732, " about noon a small shock of an earthquake was 
felt." — Smith's History of New Jersey. 

" The 7th December, this year, [1737] at night, was a large shock of an 
earthquake, accompanied with a remarkable rumbling noise ; people waked 
in their beds, the doors flew open, bricks fell from the chimneys ; the con- 
sternation was serious, but happily no great damage ensued." — Smith's 
History of New Jersey. 

" About the 22d of the month called February, [1741] appeared to these 
provinces, in the east, and continued upwards of six weeks, a comet or 
blazing star, with a long bright tail ; it was supposed to be near the equi- 
noctial at its first appearance, but moved five degrees near north in twenty- 
four hours, and continued moving till it disappeared ; toward the last it 
was very much increased in length of tail and bigness." — S?7iith's History 
of Neiv Jersey. 

" The 18th of November, [1755] at four o'clock in the morning, was a 
considerable shock of an earthquake, which lasted about two minutes; the" 



OUTLINE HISTORY. 51 

weather for seven days successively before, had been remarkably clear and 
still, and all that night was so, with a clear full moonshine ; the two days 
following continued also very still and clear, not a cloud to be seen till to- 
ward evening of the second day after it happened. It did not begin with 
so much of a rumbling noise as that in 1737, but was thought not to fall 
short in the concussion." — Smith,' s History of New Jersey. 

" The 20th of the month called July, [1764] at about forty minutes past 
seven in the evening, an uncommon ball of fire was seen in the northeast, 
about fifty degrees above the horizon ; it took its course nearly northwest ; 
its diameter seemed as large or larger than the sun, especially at one time, 
when it opened so as to seemingly separate. It appeared like sheets of fire 
inclining together ; its sound as it went in some places, was said to resemble 
that of a great fire urged by a strong wind ; it kept near one height all the way, 
till it had crossed the meridian to the north about twenty degrees ; there a 
small cloud seemed to attract it ; mounting higher, just as it approached the 
outward edge of the cloud, it appeared to shatter into innumerable pieces." 
— Smith's History of New Jersey. 

" The Rev. Mr. Sandel (says Mr. Clay in his Annals of the Swedes) 
has noticed some meteorological and other occurrences which happened in 
his time. He states, that on Michaelmas-day, the 10th of October, 1703, a 
quantity of snow fell, that laid on the ground for twenty-four hours; and 
that the oldest people said such a thing had not before happened in their 
time. On the 18th of the same month, in the evening, a hurricane arose, 
which did great damage. In Maryland and Virginia, many vessels were 
cast away, several driven to sea, and no more heard of. Roofs of houses 
were torn off, and large trees blown down. The storm reached to England, 
where also it was destructive. 

" In 1704, in the latter part of November and December, and in Janua- 
ry, 1705, there were many great and lasting snow-storms. Few persons 
could remember so severe a winter. 

" The winter of 1708 was very cold ; and it continued so very late. On 
the 5th of April the cold was so intense, that water thrown upon the ground 
at noon immediately froze. 

" For six weeks in June, July, and August of 1705, there was a great 
deal of bad weather. 

"The beginning of 1714 was uncommonly warm. Mr. S. saw a wild- 
flower in the woods on the 8th of February. The spring was also very 
mild. Some rye was in the ear on the 10th of April. 

" There was an appearance of locusts in 1715, of which Mr. Sandel has 
given the following account : — ' In May, 1715, a multitude of locusts came 
out of the ground everywhere, even on the solid roads. They were wholly 
covered with a shell, and it seemed very wonderful that they could with 
this penetrate the hard earth. Having come out of the earth, they crept 
out of the shells, flew away, sat down on the trees, and made a peculiar 
noise until evening. Being spread over the country in such numbers, the 
noise they made was so loud that the cow-bells could scarcely be heard in 
the woods. They pierced the bark on the branches of trees, and deposited 
their eggs in the opening. Many apprehended that the trees would wither 
in consequence of this, but no symptom of it was observed next year. Hogs 
and poultry fed on them. Even the Indians did eat them, especially when 
they first came, boiling them a little. This made it probable that they were 



52 INDIAN HISTORY 

of the same kind with those eaten by John the Baptist. They did not con- 
tinue long, but died in the month of June. 

" The same year was very fruitful. A bushel of wheat cost two shillings, 
or two shillings and three-pence; a bushel of corn twenty-two pence j of 
rye twenty pence. A barrel of cider cost six shillings." 



HISTORY OF THE INDIANS IN NEW JERSEY. 

" It would be vain to pretend to give a particular account of all 
the different tribes or nations of Indians that inhabited these prov- 
inces before the Europeans came among them, there being proba- 
bly a tribe in some parts for every ten or twenty miles, which were 
commonly distinguished by the names of creeks or other noted 
places where they resided ; thus, there were the Assunpink,* the 
Rankokas,f the Mingo, the Andastaka, the Neshamine, and the 
Shackamaxon Indians ; and those about Burlington were called 
the Mantas ;J but these and others were all of them distinguished 
from the back Indians, who were a more warlike people, by the 
general name of the Delawares. The nations most noted from 
home, that sometimes inhabited New Jersey, and the first settled 
parts of Pennsylvania, were the Naraticongs, on the north side of 
Raritan river, the Capitinasses, Gacheos, the Munseys, the pomp- 
tons, the Senecas, and the Maquaas ;|| this last was the most nu- 
merous and powerful. Different nations were frequently at war 
with each other, of which husbandmen sometimes find remaining 
marks in their fields ; a little below the falls of Delaware on the 
Jersey side ; at Point-no-point in Pennsylvania, and several other 
places, were banks that have been formerly thrown up for in- 
trenchments against incursions of the neighboring Indians, who, in 
their canoes, used sometimes to go in warlike bodies from one prov- 
ince to another. 

" It was customary with the Indians of West Jersey, when they 
buried their dead, to put family utensils, bows and arrows, and 
sometimes money (wampum) into the grave with them, as tokens 
of their affection. When a person of note died far from the place 
of his own residence, they would carry his bones to be buried there ; 
they washed and perfumed the dead, painted the face, and followed 
singly ; left the dead in a sitting posture, and covered the grave 
pyramidically. They were very curious in preserving and repair- 
ing the graves of their dead, and pensively visited them ; did not 
love to be asked their judgment twice about the same thing. They 
generally delighted in mirth ; were very studious in observing the 

* " Stony Creek. t Lamikas, or Chichequas was the proper Indian name ; they 

did not pronounce the r at all. 

} " Frogs : a creek or two in Gloucester county are called Manta, or Mantau, from a 
larger tribe that resided there ; the Indians were probably both of the same stock. 

|| " The Five Nations before the sixth was added ; but few of these had their residence 
in New Jersey. They are supposed to have been sometimes in fishing seasons among 
the others here ; the Dutch called them Mahakuase. 



INDIAN HISTORY. 53 

virtues of roots and herbs, by which they usually cured themselves 
of many bodily distempers, both by outward and inward applica- 
tions : they besides frequently used sweating, and the cold bath.* 
They had an aversion to beards and would not suffer them to 
grow, but plucked the hair out by the roots. The hair of their 
heads was black, and generally shone with bear's fat, particularly 
that of the women, who tied it behind in a large knot ; sometimes 
in a bag. They called persons and places by the names of things 
remarkable, or birds, beasts, and fish ; as pea-hala, a duck ; cau~ 
hawuk, a goose ; quink-quink, a tit ; pulluppa, a buck ; shingas, a 
wild-cat ; and they observed it as a rule, when the rattle-snake gave 
notice by his rattle before they approached, not to hurt him ; but 
if he rattled after they had passed, they immediately returned and 
killed him. They were very loving to one another ; if several of 
them came to a Christian's house, and the master of it gave one of 
them victuals and none to the rest, he would divide it into equal 
shares among his companions ; if the Christians visited them, they 
would give them the first cut of their victuals ; they would not eat 
the hollow of the thigh of any thing they killed. Their chief em- 
ployment was hunting, fishing, and fowling ; making canoes, bowls, 
and other wooden and earthen "ware : in all which they were, con- 
sidering the means, ingenious : in their earthen bowls they boiled 
their water. Their women's business chiefly consisted in planting 
Indian corn, parching or roasting it, pounding it to meal in mortars, 
or breaking it between stones, making bread, and dressing victuals ; 
in which they were sometimes observed to be very neat and clean- 
ly, and sometimes otherwise : they also made mats, ropes, hats, and 
baskets, (some very curious,) of wild hemp and roots, or splits of 
trees. Their young women were originally very modest and 
shamefaced, and at marriageable ages distinguished themselves 
with a kind of worked mats, or red or blue bays, interspersed with 
small rows of white and black wampum, or half rows of each in 
one, fastened to it, and then put round the head, down to near the 
middle of the forehead. Both young and old women would be 
highly offended at indecent expressions, unless corrupted with 
drink. The Indians would not allow of mentioning the name of a 
friend after death. They sometimes streaked their faces with 
black, when in mourning ; but when their affairs went well they 
painted red. They were great observers of the weather by the 
moon ; delighted in fine clothes ; were punctual in their bargains, 
and observed this so much in others, that it was very difficult for a 
person who had once failed herein, to get any dealings with them 
afterward. In their councils they seldom or never interrupted or 

* " The manner was first to inclose the patient in a narrow cabin, in the midst of 
which was a red-hot stone ; this frequently wet with water, occasioned a warm vapor ; 
the patient, sufficiently wet with this and his own sweat, was hurried to the next creek 
or river, and plunged into it : this was repeated as often as necessary, and sometimes 
great cures performed. But this rude method at other times killed, notwithstanding the 
hardy natures of the patients ; especially in the small-pox and other European disor- 
ders. 



54 INDIAN HISTORY. 

contradicted one another, till two of them had made an end of 
their discourse ; for if ever so many were in company, only two 
must speak to each other, and the rest be silent till their turn. 
Their language was high, lofty, and sententious. Their way of 
counting was by tens, that is to say, two tens, three tens, four tens, 
&c. ; when the number got out of their reach, they pointed to the 
stars, or the hair of their heads. They lived chiefly on maize, or 
Indian corn, roasted in the ashes, sometimes beaten and boiled with 
water, called hommony ; they also made an agreeable cake of their 
pounded corn ; and raised beans and peas ; but the woods and 
rivers afforded them the chief of their provisions. They pointed 
their arrows with a sharpened flinty stone, and of a larger sort, 
with withs for handles, cut their wood ; both of these sharpened 
stones are often found in the fields. Their times of eating were 
commonly morning and evening ; their seats and tables the ground. 
They were naturally reserved, apt to resent, to conceal their re- 
sentments, and retain them long ; they were liberal and generous, 
kind and affable to the English. They were observed to be un- 
easy and impatient in sickness for a present remedy, to which they 
commonly drank a decoction of roots in spring water, forbearing 
flesh, which if they then ate at all, it was of the female. They 
took remarkable care of one another in sickness, while hopes of 
life remained ; but when that was gone, some of them were apt 
to neglect the patient. Their government was monarchical and 
successive, and mostly of the mother's side, to prevent a spurious 
issue.* They commonly washed their children in cold water as 
soon as born ; and to make their limbs straight, tied them to a board, 
and hung it to their backs when they travelled ; they usually walk- 
ed at nine months old. Their young men married at sixteen or 
seventeen years of age, if by that time they had given sufficient 
proof of their manhood, by a large return of skins. The girls married 
about thirteen or fourteen, but stayed with their mothers to hoe 
the ground, bear burdens, &c, for some years after marriage. The 
women, in travelling, generally carried the luggage. The mar- 
riage ceremony was sometimes thus: — the relations and friends being 
present, the bridegroom delivered a bone to the bride, she an ear of 
Indian corn to him, meaning that he was to provide meat, she bread. 
It was not unusual, notwithstanding, to change their mates upon 
disagreement ; the children went with the party that loved them 
best, the expense being of no moment to either ; in case of differ- 
ence on this head, the man was allowed the first choice if the chil- 
dren were divided, or there was but one. Very little can be said 
as to their religion : much pains were taken by the early Christian 
settlers, and frequently since, to inform their judgments respecting 
the use and benefit of the Christian revelation, and to fix restraints ; 



* " That is, the children of him now king will not succeed, but liis brother by the 
mother, or children of his sister, whose sons (and after them the male children of her 
.daughters) were to reign ; for no woman inherited. 



INDIAN HISTORY. 55 

but generally with unpromising success, though instances have 
now and then happened to the contrary. They are thought to 
have believed in a God and immortality, and seemed to aim at 
public worship ; when they did this, they sometimes sat in several 
circles, one within another ; the action consisted of singing, jump- 
ing, shouting, and dancing ; but mostly performed rather as some- 
thing handed down from their ancestors, than from any knowledge 
or inquiry into the serious parts of its origin. They said the great 
King that made them dwelt in a glorious country to the southward, 
and that the spirits of the best should go there and live again. 
Their most solemn worship was the sacrifice of the first-fruits, in 
which they burnt the first and fattest buck, and feasted together 
upon what else they had collected ; but in this sacrifice broke no 
bones of any creature they eat ; when done, they gathered and 
buried them very carefully ; these have since been frequently 
ploughed up. They distinguished between a good and evil ma- 
netta, or spirit ; worshipped the first for the good they hoped ; and 
some of them are said to have been slavishly dark in praying to 
the last for deprecation of evils they feared ; but if this be true in 
a general sense, some of the tribes much concealed it from our 
settlers. They did justice upon one another for crimes among 
themselves, in a way of their own ; even murder might be atoned 
for by feasts, and presents of wampum ; the price of a woman 
killed was double, and the reason, because she bred children, which 
men could not do. If sober, they rarely quarrelled among them- 
selves. They lived to sixty, seventy, eighty, and more, before rum 
was introduced, but rarely since. Some tribes were commendably 
careful of their aged and decrepit, endeavoring to make the re- 
mains of life as comfortable as they could : it was pretty generally 
so except in desperate decays ; then indeed, as in other cases of the 
like kind, they were sometimes apt to neglect them. Strict ob- 
servers of property, yet, to the last degree, thoughtless and inactive 
in acquiring or keeping it. None could excel them in liberality of 
the little they had, for nothing was thought too good for a friend ; 
a knife, gun, or any such thing given to one, frequently passed 
through many hands. Their houses or wigwams were sometimes 
together in towns, but mostly moveable, and occasionally fixed 
near a spring or other water, according to the conveniences for 
hunting, fishing, basket-making, or other business of that sort, and 
built with poles laid on forked sticks in the ground, with bark, flags, 
or bushes on the top and sides, with an opening to the south, their 
fire in the middle ; at night they slept on the ground with their 
feet towards it ; their clothing was a coarse blanket or skin thrown 
over the shoulder, which covered to the knee, and a piece of the 
same tied round their legs, with part of a deer-skin sewed round 
their feet for shoes. As they had learned to live upon little, they 
seldom expected or wanted to lay up much. They were also mod- 
erate in asking a price for any thing they had for sale. When a 
company travelled together, they generally followed each other in 



56 INDIAN HISTORY. 

silence, scarcely ever two were seen by the side of one another ; 
in roads the man went before with his bow and arrow, the woman 
after, not uncommonly with a child at her back, and other burdens 
besides ; but when these were too heavy, the man assisted. To 
know their walks again, in unfrequented woods, they heaped stones 
or marked trees. 

"In person they were upright, and straight in their limbs, beyond 
the usual proportion in most nations ; their bodies were strong, but 
of a strength rather fitted to endure hardships than to sustain much 
bodily labor, very seldom crooked or deformed ; their features reg- 
ular ; their countenances sometimes fierce, in common rather re- 
sembling a Jew than Christian ; the color of their skin a tawny 
reddish brown ; the whole fashion of their lives of a piece, hardy, 
poor, and squalid. When they began to drink, they commonly con- 
tinued it as long as the means of procuring it lasted. In drink 
they often lay exposed to all the inclemencies of the weather, 
which introduced a train of new disorders among them. They 
were grave, even to sadness upon any common, and more so upon 
serious occasions ; observant of those in company, and respectful 
to the old ; of a temper cool and deliberate ; never in haste to 
speak, but waited for a certainty that the person who spoke before 
them had finished all he had to say. They seemed to hold Euro- 
pean vivacity in contempt, because they found such as came among 
them apt to interrupt each other, and frequently speak all together. 
Their behavior in public councils was strictly decent and instruc- 
tive ; every one in his turn was heard, according to rank of years 
or wisdom, or services to his country. Not a word, a whisper, or 
a murmur, while any one spoke ; no interruption to commend or 
condemn ; the younger sort were totally silent. They got fire by 
rubbing wood of particular sorts, (as the ancients did out of the 
ivy and bays,) by turning the end of a hard piece upon the side of 
one that was soft and dry ; to forward the heat they put dry rotten 
wood and leaves ; with the help of fire and their stone axes, they 
would fell large trees, and afterward scoop them into bowls, &c. 
From their infancy they were formed with care to endure hard- 
ships, to bear derision, and even blows patiently ; at least with a 
composed countenance. Though they were not easily provoked, it 
was generally hard to be appeased whenever it happened. Liber- 
ty, in its fullest extent, was their ruling passion ; to this every other 
consideration was subservient. Their children were trained up so 
as to cherish this disposition to the utmost ; they were indulged to 
a great degree, seldom chastised with blows, and rarely chided : 
their faults were left for their reason and habits of the family to 
correct ; they said these could not be great before their reason 
commenced ; and they seemed to abhor a slavish motive to action, 
as inconsistent with their notions of freedom and independency : 
even strong persuasion was industriously avoided, as bordering too 
much on dependence, and a kind of violence offered to the will. 
They dreaded slavery more than death. They laid no fines for 



INDIAN HISTORY. 57 

crimes, for they had no way of exacting them ; the atonement was 
voluntary. Every tribe had particulars in whom they reposed a 
confidence, and unless they did something unworthy of it, they 
were held in respect : what were denominated kings, were sachems 
distinguished among these ; the respect paid them was voluntary,, 
and not exacted or looked for, nor the omission regarded. The 
sachems directed in their councils, and had the chief disposition of 
lands. To help their memories in treaties, they had belts of black 
and white wampum ; with these closed their periods in speeches, 
delivering more or less, according to the importance of the matter 
treated of; this ceremony omitted, all they said passed for nothing. 
They treasured these belts when delivered to them in treaties, kept 
them as the records of the nation, to have recourse to upon future 
contests ; governed by customs and not by laws, they greatly re- 
vered those of their ancestors, and followed them so implicitly, that 
a new thought or action seldom intruded. They long remembered 
kindnesses ; families or particulars that had laid themselves out to 
deal with, entertain and treat them hospitably, or even fairly in 
dealings, if no great kindness was received, were sure of their 
trade : this also must undoubtedly be allowed, that the original and 
more uncorrupt very seldom forgot to be grateful, where real ben- 
efits had been received. And notwithstanding the stains of perfidy 
and cruelty, which, in 1754, and since, have disgraced the Indians 
on the frontiers of these provinces, even these, by an uninterrupted 
intercourse of seventy years, had, on many occasions, given irre- 
fragable proofs of liberality of sentiment, hospitality of action, and 
impressions that seemed to promise a continuation of better things. 
But of them enough at present. 

" Among a people so immediately necessary to each other, where 
property was little, and the anxiety of increasing it less, the inter- 
course naturally became free and unfettered with ceremony: hence, 
every one had his eye upon his neighbor ; misunderstandings and 
mistakes were easily rectified. No ideas of state or grandeur ; no 
homage of wealth, office, birth, rank, or learning ; no pride of house, 
habit, or furniture ; very little emulations of any kind to interrupt ; 
and so much together, they must be friends, as far at least as that 
term could be properly applied to them ; this was general in some 
of the tribes : attachments of particulars to each other were con- 
stant and steady ; and in some instances far exceeding what might 
be expected. Companies of them frequently got together to feast, 
dance, and make merry ; this sweetened the toils of hunting : ex- 
cepting these toils, and the little action before described, they 
scarcely knew any. A life of dissipation and ease, of uncertainty 
and want, of appetite, satiety, indolence, and sleep, seemed to be 
the sum of the character, and chief that they aimed at. 

" Notwithstanding their government was successive, it was, for 
extraordinary reasons, sometimes ordered otherwise : of this there 
is an instance in the old king Ockanickon, who dying about this 
time at Burlington, declared himself to this effect : — 

8 



58 INDIAN HISTORY. 

" ' It was my desire that my brother's son, Iahkursoe, should come 
to me, and hear my last words ; for him have I appointed king af- 
ter me. 

" ' My brother's son, this day I deliver my heart into your bosom ; 
and mind me. I would have you love what is good, and keep good 
company ; refuse what is evil, and by all means avoid bad com- 
pany. 

" ' Now, having delivered my heart into your bosom, I also de- 
liver my bosom to keep my heart in : be sure always to walk in a 
good path, and if any Indians should speak evil of Indians or 
Christians, do not join in it, but look at the sun from the rising of it 
to the setting of the same. In speeches that shall be made be- 
tween the Indians and the Christians, if any wrong or evil thing be 
spoken, do not join with that ; but join with the good. When 
speeches are made, do not you speak first ; be silent, and let all 
speak before you, and take good notice what each man speaks, and 
when you have heard all, join to that which is good. 

" ' Brother's son, I would have you cleanse your ears, and take all 
foulness out, that you may hear both good and evil, and then join 
with the good and refuse the evil ; and also cleanse your eyes, that 
you may see good and evil, and where you see evil, do not join 
with it, but join to that which is good. 

" ' Brother's son, you have heard what has passed ; stand up in 
time of speeches ; stand in my steps, and follow my speeches : this 
do, and what you desire in reason, will be granted. Why should 
you not follow my example ? I have had a mind to be good and 
do good, therefore do you the same. Sheoppy and Swampis were 
to be kings in my stead, but understanding, by my doctor, that 
Sheoppy secretly advised him not to cure me, and they both being 
with me at John Hollingshead's house, I myself saw by them, that 
they were given more to drink, than to take notice of my last 
words ; for I had a mind to make a speech to them, and to my 
brethren, the English commissioners ; therefore I refuse them to be 
kings after me, and have now chosen my brother's son Iahkursoe 
in their stead to succeed me. 

" ' Brother's son, I advise you to be plain and fair with all, both 
Indians and Christians, as 1 have been ; I am very weak, otherwise 
I would have spoken more.' 

" After the Indian had delivered this counsel to his nephew, T. 
Budd, one of the proprietors, being present, took the opportunity to 
remark, that ' there was a great God, who created all things ; that 
he gave man an understanding of what was good and bad ; and 
after this life rewarded the good with blessings, and the bad ac- 
cording to their doings.' He answered — ' It is very true, it is so : 
there are two ways, a broad and a straight way ; there are two 
paths, a broad and a straight path : the worst and the greatest 
number go in the broad, the best and fewest in the straight path.' 
This king dying soon afterward, was attended to his grave in the 
Quaker's burial-place in Burlington, with solemnity, by the Indians 



INDIAN HISTORY. 



59 



in their manner, and with great respect by many of the English 
settlers ; to whom he had been a sure friend." 

The foregoing history of the Indians, &c, is copied from Smith's 
History of New Jersey. The following is from a series of articles 
recently published in the Newarjz Sentinel, entitled " Glimpses of the 
Past in New Jersey :" 

" During the dominion of the Dutch, hostile relations existed on two or 
three occasions. De Vries tells us, (New York Historical Collections,) that, 
in 1630, thirty-two men were killed by the Indians on the Delaware ; and 
he gives a detailed account of difficulties with those of East Jersey, in 1640 
and 1643. In the former year, an expedition, fitted out against those on 
the Raritan, accused, although wrongfully, of having committed thefts and 
other trespasses, caused some of the leading chiefs to be maltreated, and 
led to retaliatory measures upon the settlers of Staten Island, who were 
killed, and their plantations broken up. 

" This matter, in connection with the refusal of the Indians to give up the 
author of a murder subsequently committed, brought on hostilities. The 
Dutch authorities were guilty of great duplicity, (New York Colonial Re- 
cords, in Historical Collections,) in beguiling the natives into the belief that 
no evil was brewing against them ; for they directed that ' the kind inter- 
course and the trade in corn should be continued with them as before, till 
God's will, and proper opportunity is offered.' This opportunity came early 
in 1643. The Indians in the vicinity of Fort Orange, (Albany,) having 
commenced a war with their more southern brethren, Gov. Kiefl joined with 
them; and, on the night of the 25-26th of January, a detachment of troops 
was sent over to Pavonia, and eighty Indians were murdered in their sleep, 
or in attempting to escape. ' This was the feat,' says De Vries, alluding to 
a remark of the governor in relation to it, ' worthy of the heroes of old 
Rome, to massacre a parcel of Indians, and to butcher them in the presence 
of their parents, and throw their mangled limbs into the fire or water. 
Other sucklings had been fastened to little boards, and in this position they 
were cut to pieces. Some were thrown into the river, and when the parents 
rushed in to save them, the soldiers prevented their landing, and let parents 
and children drown.' As the orders given to the officer commanding the 
expedition, as they appear on record, were ' to spare as much as it is pos- 
sible their wives and children, and to take the savages prisoners,' we might 
attribute this cruelty entirely to the excited passions of the men ; but the 
same author tells us they were rewarded, and that ' the same night forty 
Indians more were murdered at Corlaer's plantation.' 

Such a warfare could not fail to exasperate the natives ; and we are told 
that, so soon as they became aware that these massacres were by the whites, 
(for, from the secrecy observed, and the darkness of the night, they thought 
they had been attacked by their enemies, the Maquas,) they murdered in the 
country all the men they could find ; but, more humane than the whites, 
spared the females and children. Houses and barns, grain and hay, were 
destroyed, and war waged for a month or more. In March, a peace was 
concluded, which lasted only till October ; when three or four soldiers, sta- 
tioned at Pavonia for the protection of a family, having been attacked, war 
was renewed ; and so serious was its character, that, in March, 1644, the 
authorities of New Amsterdam proclaimed a solemn fast, to deprecate the 
anjrer of Jehovah. 



60 INDIAN HISTORY. 

" Peace was permanently restored the following year ; and as, in their 
distress, they had fasted, so now the good burghers rejoiced, and kept a day 
of public thanksgiving and praise. We hear of no further disturbances 
from this time ; and in 1664 the English came into possession of the coun- 
try. Of course, the unsettled state of the intercourse with the Indians had 
interfered most materially with the settlement of this portion of the New 
Netherlands. 

" There are no data by which a true estimate can be formed of the num- 
ber of Indians within what are now the limits of New Jersey, when first 
population began to change the character and aspect of the country ; but 
probably there were more than two thousand when the province was taken 
under the domination of the English. An old pamphlet in the Philadelphia 
Library, printed in 1648, to induce emigration under the grant to Sir Ed- 
ward Ployden, (Plantagenet's New Albion, p. 22,) states that the natives 
in this section of the country were under the dominion of about twenty 
kings; that there were 'twelve hundred under the two Raritan kings on 
the north side, next to Hudson's river, and those come down to the ocean 
about Little Egg bay and Sandy Barnegate ; and about the South cape two 
small kings, of forty men apiece, called Tirans and Tiascans ; and a third 
reduced to fourteen men, at Reymont.' The seat of the Raritan king is 
stated to have been called (by the English) Mount Ployden, ' twenty miles 
from Sandhay sea, and ninety from the ocean ; next to Amara hill, the retired 
paradise of the children of the Ethiopian emperor — a wonder, for it is a square 
rock, two miles compass, one hundred and fifty feet high, a wall-like preci- 
pice, a strait entrance easily made invincible, where he keeps two hundred 
for his guards, and under is a flat valley, all plain, to plant and sow.' 

" The writer is at a loss to locate this ' Mount,' and ' retired paradise,' 
if such actually existed, save in the imagination of ' Beauchamp Plantage- 
net, Esq. ;' as he knows of no place answering the description. On early 
maps of New Jersey, an Indian path is designated, running from the mouth 
of Shrewsbury river in a northwesterly direction, crossing the Raritan a 
little to the westward of Amboy ; and thence in a northerly direction to 
Minisink island, in the Delaware river, near the northern boundary of the 
state. This was probably their great thoroughfare. The Sanhicans, the 
deadly enemies of the Manhatae, but whom De Laet characterizes as a bet- 
ter and more decent people, inhabited that part of the province lying west 
of Staten Island ; and further south were the Naraticongs, Maravancons, 
and other branches of the great Delaware tribe. 

" When the province came into the possession of Lords Berkeley and 
Carteret, they consulted the peace and happiness of the settlers, by the es- 
tablishment of the best regulations for intercourse with the natives. They 
say to their governor and councillors, should they ' happen to find any na- 
tives in our said province, and tract of land aforesaid, that then you treat 
them with all humanity and kindness, and not in anywise grieve or op- 
press them, but endeavor by a Christian carriage to manifest piety, justice, 
and charity, and in your conversation with them ; the manifestation where- 
of will prove beneficial to the planters, and likewise advantageous to the 
propagation of the gospel.' — (East Jersey Records.) And, in order that 
they might be protected from the arts of designing men, their lands were 
not allowed to be purchased excepting through the governor and council, 
in the name of the lords proprietors. 

"It was to be presumed, however, that intercourse with such varied 



INDIAN HISTORY. 61 

characters, as ever constitute the first population of a new country, would 
present many causes for outbreaks and disputes. The assembly, therefore, 
early took measures to guard against such difficulties by prohibiting all 
trade with them ; and in 1675, when some apprehensions were entertained, 
the sale to them of ammunition was prevented, as well as the repairing of 
their firearms ; and the continuance of peace was, in subsequent years, 
still further secured, by prohibiting the sale, gift, or loan to them of any 
intoxicating drink. These wholesome restrictions, modified as occasion re- 
quired, continued in force under the government of the twenty-four proprie- 
tors, and that of the crown which succeeded. Mrs. Mary Smith, in a man- 
uscript account of the first settlement of Burlington, quoted in Watson's 
Annals, says, 'the Indians were very civil, brought them corn, venison, and 
bargained also for their land.' It was said that an old Indian king spoke 
prophetically, before his death, of the increase of the whites, and the dimi- 
nution of his race. Such predictions were current among them, as early 
as 1680. At the time Perth Amboy was settled, (1684,) there appears to 
have been only a few natives in that vicinity ; and those who visited the 
place are represented as very serviceable to the settlers, from the game they 
caught, and the skins and furs they procured and sold to them." 



" The first serious outbreak occurred in 1755 ; but, so soon as a nostile 
feeling became apparent, the legislature appointed commissioners to examine 
into the causes of dissatisfaction. A convention was held at Crosswicks, 
for the purpose, in January, 1756 ; and in March, 1757, a bill was passed, 
calculated to remove the difficulties which had grown out of impositions up- 
on the Indians when intoxicated, the destruction of deer by traps, and the 
occupation of lands by the whites which they had not sold. — (Neville's Laws, 
vol. ii., p. 125.) During this year, however, and the first part of 1758, 
the western borders of the province were in much alarm from the hostile 
feeling prevalent among the Minisink and neighboring tribes — from May, 
1757, to June, 1758, twenty-seven murders having been committed by them 
on the West Jersey side of the Delaware. A constant guard was kept un- 
der arms, to protect the inhabitants; but it was not always able to check 
the predatory excursions of the savages. 

" In June, 1758, Gov. Bernard, of New Jersey, consulted Gen. Forbes 
and Gov. Denny, of Pennsylvania, as to the measures best calculated to put 
a stop to this unpleasant warfare ; and through Teedyescung, king of the 
Delawares, he obtained a conference with the Minisink and Pompton Indians, 
protection being assured them. — (Smith's New Jersey, pp. 447, 448.) It 
shows no little regard for truth, and the prevalence of a humane and for- 
giving spirit, on the part of the whites, as well as confidence on the part of 
the Indians, that the one party should venture, after what had passed, to 
place themselves so completely in the hands of their enemies, and the other 
to profit not thereby. 

" The conference took place at Burlington, August 7th, 1758. On the 
part of the province, there were present the governor, three commissioners 
of Indian affairs of the house of assembly, and six members of the council. 
Two Minisink or Munsey Indians, one Cayugan, one Delaware messenger 
from the Mingoians, and one Delaware who came with the Minisinks, were 
the delegates from the natives. The conference opened with a speech from 
the governor. He sat, holding four strings of wampum, and thus addressed 
them : ' Brethren, as you are come from a long journey, through a wood 



62 INDIAN HISTORY. 

full of briers, with this string I anoint your feet, and take away their sore- 
ness ; with this string I wipe the sweat from your bodies; with this string I 
cleanse your eyes, ears, and mouth, that you may see, hear, and speak 
clearly ; and I particularly anoint your throat, that every word you say 
may have a free passage from the heart. And with this string I bid you 
heartily welcome.' The four strings were then delivered to them. The 
result of the conference was, that a time was fixed for holding another at 
Easton, at the request of the Indians ; that being, as they termed it, the 
place of the ' old council-fire.' 

"The act passed in 1757 appropriated £1,600 for the purchase of Indian 
claims ; but, as the Indians living south of the Raritan preferred receiving 
their proportion in land specially allotted for their occupancy, 3,044 acres, in 
the township of Evesham, Burlington county, were purchased for them. 
A house of worship and several dwellings were subsequently erected, form- 
ing the town of Brotherton ; and as the selling and leasing of any portion 
of the tract was prohibited, as was also the settlement upon it of any per- 
sons other than Indians, the greatest harmony appears to have prevailed 
between its inhabitants and their white neighbors. — (Allinson'sLaws, p. 221.) 

"On the 8th October, 1758, the conference commenced at Easton. It 
was attended by the lieutenant-governor of Pennsylvania, six of his coun- 
cil, and an equal number of the house of representatives ; Gov. Bernard 
of New Jersey, five Indian commissioners, George Croghan, Esq., (deputy 
Indian agent under Sir William Johnson,) a number of magistrates and 
freeholders of the two provinces, and five hundred and seven Indians, com- 
prising delegations from fourteen different tribes. Gov. Denny being obliged 
to return to Philadelphia, the business of the conference was mainly con- 
ducted by Gov. Bernard, who, in its management, evinced no small degree 
of talent and tact. It was closed on the 26th October ; and the result was 
a release, by the Minisink and Wapping Indians, of all lands claimed by 
them within the limits of New Jersey, for the sum of £1,000. Deeds were 
also obtained from the Delawares and other Indians, and they were all de- 
sired to remember ' that by these two agreements the province of New Jer- 
sey is entirely freed and discharged from all Indian claims." At least such 
was the opinion of Gov. Bernard and the Indians ; but the assembly, the 
ensuing March, in answer to the governor's speech, mention a small claim 
of the Totamies, and some private claims, still outstanding. The minutes 
of this interesting conference are printed at length in Smith's History. The 
governor recommended to the succeeding assembly the continuance of a 
guard, and the establishment of a regular trading-house ; but neither meas- 
ure was adopted. The amicable relations, thus happily begun, remained 
undisturbed for several years. In 1764, a frontier guard of two hundred 
men was again kept up for some time, in consequence of disturbances in 
Pennsylvania ; but the alarm soon subsided. 

" In 1769, Gov. Franklin attended a convention held with the Six Na- 
tions, by several of the colonial governors, and informed the assembly, on his 
return, that they had publicly acknowledged repeated instances of the justice 
of the New Jersey authorities in bringing the murderers of Indians to condign 
punishment; declared that they had no claim or demand whatsoever on the 
province ; and in the most solemn manner conferred on its government the 
distinguished title of Sagorightviyogstha, or the great arbiter, or doer of jus- 
tice — a name which, the governor truly remarked, reflected high honor up- 
on the province. — (New York Journal, Oct. 26.) 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. 63 

" In 1802, the small remnant of these original possessors of the soil, re- 
maining in Burlington county, obtained permission to sell their lands and re- 
move to a settlement on the Oneida lake, in the state of New York, where 
they continued until 1824; when, with other Indians, they purchased from 
the Menominees a tract bordering on Lake Michigan, and removed thither. 
In 1832, the New Jersey tribe, reduced to less than forty souls, applied to 
the legislature of the state for remuneration on account of their rights of 
hunting and fishing on unenclosed lands, which they had reserved in their 
various agreements and conventions with the whites. Although no legal 
claim could be substantiated, yet the legislature, in kindness, and through 
compassion for the wanderers, directed the treasurer to pay their agent two 
thousand dollars, upon filing in the office of the secretary a full relinquish- 
ment of all the rights of his tribe. — (Gordon's New Jersey.) Thus was 
extinguished every legal and equitable claim of the Indians to the soil of 
New Jersey — a fact which must gratify every citizen of the state." 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. 

Atlantic county is bounded NE. by Burlington co., SE. by the 
Atlantic ocean, S. by Cape May co., S W. by Cumberland co., and 
NW. by Gloucester co. It is about 30 miles long by 20 wide ; and 
was formed from the eastern part of Gloucester co., in 1837. The 
principal streams are the Great Egg Harbor, running through it near- 
ly centrally ; the Little Egg Harbor, separating it from Burlington 
co. ; and the Tuckahoe, on its southern boundary. These streams 
are navigable for many miles, and facilitate the transportation of 
timber and cord- wood to market, which form the most valuable pro- 
ducts of this part of the state. Clams, oysters, and fish abound in 
the numerous bays and inlets on its coast ; and many of its inhab- 
itants gain their livelihood by oystering and fishing. Ship-building 
is carried on in the little settlements on the streams ; and glass- 
houses and furnaces are scattered here and there among the pines, 
Agriculture is but little pursued, there being but few farms. 

The pine-region of New Jersey extends over about one third of 
its territory, comprising the whole of this, and parts of Middlesex, 
Monmouth, Burlington, Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland, and Cape 
May counties. This immense tract is very thinly settled, there 
being many square miles on which there is not a single inhabitant ; 
" where deer, foxes, and rabbits are abundant, and the bear finds a 
lair to protect its race from extirpation." Through these wilds 
wind numerous roads, by mazes almost inextricable ; where 

the scarcely-waving 1 pine 



Fills the brown shade with a religious awe." 



Thirty years since, this immense forest was of little value ; but the 
introduction of steamboats and anthracite coal has created such a 



64 ATLANTIC COUNTY. 

demand for fuel, that the lands have risen from ten cents to four or 
five dollars per acre ; and in some instances, where convenient to 
market, bring from fifteen to sixty dollars. Where the pine has 
been cleared, oak springs up ; and frequently, where the oak has 
been cut, the pine again succeeds. Upon the clay and loam soils 
oak abounds, of an excellent quality for ship-building- In the 
sandy region are extensive swamps bearing white cedar, very 
valuable, and worth from one to three hundred dollars per acre. 
Atlantic co. is divided into five townships, viz : 
Egg Harbor, Hamilton, Mullica, Weymouth, Galloway. 
This is the most thinly-settled county in the state. In 1830, the 
townships now comprising it numbered 8,164 souls ; in 1840, 8,726. 



EGG HARBOR. 

Egg Harbor was incorporated in 1798. It is about 1 1 miles long 
by 10 broad; and is bounded NE. by Galloway, SE. by the ocean, S. 
by Great Egg Harbor bay, separating it from Cape May co., SW. 
by Great Egg Harbor river, dividing it from Weymouth, and NW. 
by Hamilton. Its surface is level, and principally covered with 
pines. On the coast is a marsh, four miles wide, studded with twenty 
or thirty islets, encircled by bays and arms of the sea. Beyond 
these, next to the ocean, Absecum beach stretches along parallel 
with the coast, for 9 miles. Bargaintown, 10 miles SE. of May's 
Landing, has a Methodist church, and about 30 dwellings. Leeds- 
ville, on the shore, 1 mile SE. of Bargaintown, contains 15 or 20- 
dwellings. Somers Point, on Great Egg Harbor bay, is quite a 
place of resort in the summer. Here are good boarding-houses for 
the accommodation of strangers. From this place along the shore, 
to Absecombe, there is an almost continuous line of houses. Ac- 
cording to the United States census, in 1840, the population of this 
township was 2,739. It contained 10 stores, capital $10,600 ; 3 
grist-mills, and 4 saw-mills ; $9,800 capital employed in manufac- 
tures ; 10 schools, 810 scholars. 

Capt. Richard Somers, one of the most gallant and intrepid offi- 
cers that ever did honor to the United States navy, was a native 
of this township. He was the youngest child of Col. Richard 
Somers, a prominent man, in this vicinity, in the American revo- 
lution. The subject of our notice was born about the year 1778, 
at Somers Point. He first attended school at Philadelphia, and af- 
terward at a celebrated academy in Burlington. About the year 
1794, Somers, then 15 or 16 years of age, first went to sea, in a 
coasting vessel, from Egg Harbor. Two years after, he received 
a warrant as a midshipman, and made his first cruise in the frigate 
United States, in company with Decatur ; both of whom became, 
for the remainder of life, generous professional rivals, and strong 
personal friends. In 1801, Somers was promoted to a lieutenancy, 
and at the time of his death was appointed master-commandant. 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. 65 

In 1803, at the period of the difficulties with the Barbary powers, 
Lieut. Somers was appointed to the command of the Nautilus, a 
beautiful schooner of 12 guns, attached to the Mediterranean 
squadron ; which sailed in the summer and autumn of this year, 
and became so celebrated under the orders of Preble. 

While at Syracuse, on this, or perhaps a previous occasion, where 
the American vessels made their principal rendezvous, a charac- 
teristic anecdote is related of Somers, by his biographer. He was 
walking in the vicinity of the town, in company with two brother 
officers, when five Sicilian soldiers, carrying swords, made an at- 
tack on the party, with intent to rob. One of the gentlemen had a 
dirk, while Somers and the other were unarmed. The officer with 
the dirk used the weapon so vigorously as soon to bring down one 
assailant ; while Somers, seizing the sword-blade of his antagonist, 
was severely cut in the hand by the unsuccessful efforts of the 
Sicilian for its recovery ; but finally he wrested it from him, and 
plunged it into his body. This decided the matter, the three rob- 
bers taking to flight. 

When the American squadron under Preble was maintaining 
the blockade against Tripoli, in 1804, he distinguished himself in its 
early stages, as well as on the occasion in which he lost his life. 
At one time he was engaged in a gunboat, within pistol-shot, 
against a force at least five times superior. In the end the enemy 
were obliged to make off, and he brought off his boat in triumph. 
On another occasion, as his boat was advancing to her position, an 
incident occurred which marked his presence of mind. Somers, 
while leaning against the flagstaff, saw a shot flying directly in a 
line for him, and bowed his head to avoid it. The shot cut the 
staff, and on measuring, it was certain he escaped death only by 
the timely removal. 

After several unsuccessful enterprises to force the enemy to 
terms, it was resolved to fit up the ketch "Intrepid " in the double 
capacity of fire-ship and infernal, and to send her into the inner 
harbor of Tripoli, there to explode, in the very centre of the ves- 
sels of the Turks. As her deck was to be covered with a large 
quantity of powder, shells, and missiles, it was hoped the town 
would suffer not less than the shipping. The panic created by such 
an assault, made in the dead of night, it was fondly hoped would 
produce an instant peace ; and more especially the liberation of 
the frigate Philadelphia, whose officers and crew were thought to 
have been reduced to extreme suffering by the barbarity of their 
captors. 

The imminent danger of the service forbade the commodore or- 
dering any of his officers upon it ; and Somers, with whom the 
conception of this daring scheme is supposed to have originated, 
volunteered to take the command. 

" On the afternoon of the 4th of September, Somers prepared to 
leave the Nautilus, with a full determination to carry the ketch 
into Tripoli that night. Previously to quitting his own vessel, he 

9 



66 ATLANTIC COUNTY. 

felt that it would be proper to point out the desperate nature of the 
enterprise to the four men he had selected, that their services 
might be perfectly free and voluntary. He told them that he 
wished no man to accompany him, who would not prefer being 
blown up to being taken ;* that such was his own determination, 
and that he wished all who went with him to be the same way of 
thinking. The boats now gave three cheers in answer ; and each 
man is said to have separately asked to be selected to apply the 
match. Once assured of the temper of his companions, Somers 
took leave of his officers ; the boat's crew doing the same, shaking 
hands, and expressing their feelings, as if they felt assured of their 
fate in advance. . . . Each of the four men made his will 
verbally ; disposing of his eifects among his shipmates, like those 
about to die. . . . Several of Somers' friends visited him on 
board the Intrepid before she got under way, Among them were 
Stewart and Decatur, with whom he had commenced his naval 
career in the United States. These three young men, then about 
twenty-six years of age each, were Philadelphia-bred sailors, and 
had been intimately associated in service for the last six years. 
They all knew that the enterprise was one of extreme hazard, and 
the two who were to remain behind felt a deep interest in the fate 
of him who was to go in. Somers was grave, and entirely with- 
out any affectation of levity or indifference ; but he maintained his 
usual tranquil and quiet manner. After some conversation, he took 
a ring from his finger, and breaking it into three pieces, gave each 
of his companions one, while he retained the third himself." 

Two boats accompanied the ketch to bring off the party just af- 
ter setting fire to the train. In the whole there were thirteen men, 
all volunteers. 

About nine o'clock in the evening Lieut. Reed was the last to 
leave the ketch for his own vessel. " When he went over the side 
of the Intrepid, all communication between the gallant spirits she 
contained and the rest of the world ceased. At that time every 
thing seemed propitious. Somers was cheerful, though calm ; and 
perfect order and method prevailed in the little craft. The leave- 
taking was affectionate and serious with the officers, though the 
common men appeared to be in high spirits." 

The ketch was seen to proceed cautiously into the bay, but was soon 
obscured by the haze on the water. " It "was not long before the 
enemy began to fire at the ketch, which by this time was quite 
near the batteries, though the reports were neither rapid nor nu- 
merous. At this moment, near ten o'clock, Capt. Stewart and 
Lieut. Carrol were standing in the Siren's gangway, looking intent- 
ly toward the place where the ketch was known to be, when the 
latter exclaimed, ' Look ! see the light !' At that instant a light 
was seen passing and waving, as if a lantern were carried by some 

* It was supposed that the enemy were nearly out of ammunition, and if the ketch had 
fallen into their hands, they would have had a sufficient supply. This was the reason 
for adopting, if necessary, this dreadful alternative. 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. 67 

person in quick motion along a vessel's deck. Then it sunk from 
view. Half a minute may have elapsed, when the whole firma- 
ment was lighted with a fiery glow ; a burning mast with its sails 
was seen in the air ; the whole harbor was momentarily illumi- 
nated ; the awful explosion came, and a darkness like that of doom 
succeeded. The whole was over in less than a minute ; the flame, 
the quaking of towers, the reeling of ships, and even the bursting 
of shells, of which most fell in the water, though some lodged on 
the rocks. The firing ceased, and from that instant Tripoli passed 
the night in a stillness as profound as that in which the victims of 
this explosion have lain from that fatal hour to this." 

In the American squadron the opinion was prevalent, that 
Somers and his determined crew had blown themselves up to pre- 
vent capture ; but subsequent light has rendered it more probable 
that it was accidental, or occasioned either by a hot shot from the 
enemy. " Thus perished Richard Somers, ' one of the bravest of the 
brave.' Notwithstanding all our means of reasoning, and the 
greatest efforts of human ingenuity, there will remain a melan- 
choly interest around the manner of his end, which, by the Al- 
mighty will, is forever veiled from human eyes, in a sad and 
solemn mystery." 

In person, Somers was rather below the middle stature ; stout in 
frame, and exceedingly active and muscular. He was mild, amia- 
ble, and affectionate, both in disposition and deportment ; though of 
singularly chivalrous notions of duty and honor. As a proof of 
the estimation in which he was held, several small vessels have 
been called after him ; among which is the beautiful little brig 
" Somers," which recently has been the scene of a thrilling tragedy 
on the high seas.* 



GALLOWAY. 

Galloway was incorporated in 1798. It is 16 miles long, 
and 8 wide, and is bounded NE. by Little Egg Harbor bay and 
river, separating it from Burlington co., SW. by Egg Harbor town- 
ship and Hamilton, SE. by the ocean, and NW. by Mullica. Its 
surface is level and covered with pines. The ocean-side is bor- 
dered by a marsh several miles in width, in which are numerous 
arms of the sea, and bays with many small islands. Outside of these 
is Brigantine Beach, where were formerly works for the manufac- 
ture of salt from sea- water. Absecombe, in the SE. corner, 13 miles 
from May's Landing, contains about 30 dwellings. Port Republic 
is a village of about the same size upon Nacote creek, a branch of 
the Little Egg Harbor. A considerable business is done here in 
ship-building. Smithville is a small village 7 miles N. of Abse- 
combe. There is a Methodist church at each of these places. The 

* The foregoing account of Somers is drawn from an interesting biography by J. Fenni- 
more Cooper, in Graham's Magazine for October, 1842. 



68 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. 



townsnip contains 7 stores, capital $9,700 ; 1 glass factory, 3 grist- 
mills, 3 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures, $47,500 ; 8 schools, 
616 scholars. Population, 2,208. 

In the American revolution there was a considerable settlement 
at the forks of Little Egg Harbor river, now gone to decay. It 
contained about 30 dwellings, inhabited principally by persons en- 
gaged in " running goods" when Philadelphia was in possession of 
the British. Little Egg Harbor river was a favorite resort for pri- 
vateers to land their cargoes for this purpose. At Chestnut Neck 
some storehouses for the reception of merchandise were burnt by 
the British. At that time a breastwork was erected there, and the 
inhabitants to the number of 1,500 collected for its defence. The 
enemy coming up the river in strong force in barges, compelled 
them to retreat. 



HAMILTON. 




View of the County Buildings, May's Landing. 

Hamilton is about 16 miles long by 11 wide, and is bounded 
NE. by Galloway, SW. by Cape May county, SE. by Egg Har- 
bor, and NW. by part of Gloucester county. The Great Egg 
Harbor river passes through its whole length, draining a wide ex- 
tent of sandy soil and pine forest. The township contains 8 stores, 
capital $14,800; 1 furnace, 1 forge, 2 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills; 
capital in manufactures, $22,150 ; 6 schools, 916 scholars. Popu- 
lation, 1,565. 

May's Landing, the seat of justice for the county, is on the Great 
Egg Harbor river, at the head of navigation, 16 miles from the At- 
lantic ocean, and 73 from Trenton. It is' divided into two portions 
about a quarter of a mile apart. Hamilton, the upper village, is 
on both sides of the river, over which is a bridge. May's Landing 
is on the west side of the river, and was first settled. There are 



ATLANTIC COUNTY. G9 

in the village and vicinity about 70 dwellings. Its inhabitants are 
principally engaged in ship-building, and in transporting cord-wood 
and timber to market. The above view shows on the right the 
courthouse and other county buildings. That on the extreme right 
is the jail. These are handsome brick edifices, situated on the 
north bank of the river, about 60 rods east of the bridge. There 
are two churches in the village ; a Methodist, (formerly occupied 
by Methodists and Baptists,) and a Presbyterian church lately 
erected, a handsome brick edifice with a spire, situated near the 
county buildings, in a grove of venerable forest-trees. 

May's Landing was first settled in 1710, by George May, who 
bought the land on which the village stands. He opened a store 
and supplied vessels which put in here with wood. His dwelling 
was standing until about 1830, on the north side of the river, about 
10 rods above the mouth of Babcock's creek, near the willow-trees. 
It was a small gambrel-roofed building, a story and a half high, 
fronting on the river. After the American revolution Colonel 
Richard Westcott removed here from the forks of Egg Harbor, and 
became a large owner. This gentleman died about twenty years 
since, at the advanced age of 102 years. A Baptist church was 
built in the village in 1782, in which the clergyman at Tuckahoe, 
where there was then also a church of this denomination, occasionally 
preached. Catawba, 4 miles SE. of the courthouse, has a Metho- 
dist church and about 20 dwellings. Weymouth, on the river, 6 
miles NW. of the courthouse, contains a Methodist church, a fur- 
nace, forge, saw and grist mill, and about 40 dwellings. These 
works belong to the heirs of Samuel Richards, Esq., deceased, and 
give employment, directly and indirectly, to several hundred men. 

The following extracts from the New Jersey State Gazette, pub- 
lished at Trenton in the war of the revolution, relate to incidents 
off this coast. 

March 31, 1779. — In the late snow-storm, the transport ship Mermaid, of White- 
haven, England, with troops from Halifax, bound to New York, was driven on shore and 
bilged at Egg Harbor. After being in this miserable situation from five o'clock on Mon- 
day morning until noon on Tuesday, a boat came off to their relief, and saved only 42 
souls out of 187. Perished — Capt. Snowball, Lieut. Snodgrass, 112 sergeants, drum- 
mers, and privates, 13 women, 11 sailors, and 7 children; total, 145. Saved — 5 ser. 
geants, 25 privates, 7 sailors, and 5 officers ; total, 42. 

Sept. 11, 1782. — Last week Capt. Douglas with some of the militia of Gloucester co., 
attacked a refugee boat at Egg Harbor, with 18 refugees on board, of whom 14 were 
shot or drowned ; the others made their escape. 

Dec. 18, 1782. — Capt. Jackson, of the Greyhound, on the evening of Sunday, last 
week, with much address captured, within the Hook, the schooner Dolphin, and sloop 
Diamond, bound from New York to Halifax, and brought them both into Egg Harbor. 
These vessels were both condemned to the claimants, and the amount of sales amounted 
to £10,500. 

Aug. 25, 1779. — By a sailor from Egg Harbor, we are informed, that on Wednesday 
last, the schooner Mars, Capt. Taylor, fell in with a vessel mounting 14 guns, which he 
boarded and took. She proved to be a packet from Falmouth to New York. Capt. 
Taylor took the mail and prisoners, 45 in number ; but on Saturday last, fell in witli a 
fleet of 23 sail, under convoy of a large ship and frigate, when the latter gave chase to 
the packet and retook her. Capt. Taylor got safe into Egg Harbor. 

The annexed account of a naval exploit of a minor character, 



70 ATLANTIC COUNTY. 

performed off this coast in the late war, was communicated by a 
resident of May's Landing. 

In the latter part of 1813, as several small coasters were sailing around Cape May, 
from the Delaware river, bound for Egg Harbor, they came in contact with a British 
armed schooner, lying at ancbor off the Cape. She put chase, fired upon, and took the 
schooner New Jersey, from May's Landing, which was manned by the master, Capt. 
Burton, and 2 hands. Having placed on board as prize-master a young midshipman, 
with three men, (two Englishmen and an Irishman,) she ordered the sloop to follow her, 
and continued the pursuit of the other vessels. As they neared Egg Harbor, the ap- 
proach of night compelled her to desist from the chase, and she then put about for the 
Cape. The sloop followed, but made little headway, the young midshipman in com- 
mand being an indifferent seaman. He at length placed the sailing of the vessel under 
the directions of Capt. Burton, directing him to steer for the Cape. He designedly 
steered the vessel so that no headway was made. Morning dawned and found them off 
the mouth of Great Egg Harbor. Burton feigned ignorance of the place. Shortly af- 
ter, a man was sent aloft to look out : the prize-master and one of his men went below to 
examine the charts, leaving the three Americans and one of the enemy on deck. Bur- 
ton availed himself of the opportunity. He and his two men secured the one on deck, 
fastened the two in the cabin, and having thus made them all prisoners, in an hour, with a 
fair wind, brought his vessel to anchor off Somers Point, within a short distance of 
home. The prize-master, after a short confinement in prison, was exchanged. The two 
Englishmen hired out in the vicinity, and the Irishman enlisted on board a gunboat and 
fought valiantly for the stripes and stars. 



MULLICA. 

Mullica, the NW. township of the county, was formed in 1838, 
from Galloway. It is about 13 miles long, 8 wide, and is bounded 
NE. by Burlington county, SW. by Hamilton, SE. by Gallo- 
way, and NW. by Gloucester county. Surface level, and covered 
by a pine forest. Gloucester, Pleasant Mills, and Hammonton, are 
settlements. Gloucester is in the SE. part, on a branch of the Little 
Egg Harbor or Mullicus river, where there is a furnace giving em- 
ployment to about 100 men, a grist m., saw m., and about 25 
dwellings. The iron works, now the property of John Richards, Esq., 
were founded in 1813, previous to which there was no settlement. 
Pleasant Mills, on Atsion river, a branch of the Mullicus, contains 
an extensive cotton factory, a Methodist church, and about 30 
dwellings. Hammonton is the name of a locality in the W. part 
of the township, where there are glass works and a few dwellings. 
The township contains 10 stores, cap. 816,900 ; 1 furnace, 3 grist 
m., 7 saw m., cap. in manufac. $19,300; 5 schools, 296 scholars. 
Population 1,056. 

WEYMOUTH. 

Weymouth was incorporated in 1798 It is 9 miles long, 7 broad, 
and is bounded N. E. by Great Egg Harbor river, separating it 
from Egg Harbor and part of Hamilton, S. and W. by Tuckahoe 
river, dividing it from Cape May and Cumberland counties. The 
portion of the township bordering Tuckahoe and Great Egg Harbor 
river is mostly marsh ; the remaining portion generally covered 
with pine forest. On Stevens' creek, a branch of the last named 



BERGEN COUNTY. 71 

river, 5 miles south of May's Landing, are Estell's glass works, 
employing about 80 men ; a Methodist church, a grist and saw 
mill, and a few buildings. The village of Tuckahoe is on both 
sides of the Tuckahoe river, partly in this and partly in Cape May 
co. The township contains 8 stores, capital $16,000 ; 1 forge, 1 
grist-mill, 6 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures $14,000 ; 6 schools, 
336 scholars. Population, 1,158. 



BERGEN COUNTY. 

Bergen county was bounded, by the act of 1709, as follows: 
" That on the eastern division the county shall begin at Constable's 
Hook, and so run up along the bay and Hudson river to the parti- 
tion point between New Jersey and the province of New York, 
and along that line between the provinces, and the division line of 
the eastern and western divisions of this province, to Pequanock 
river ; thence by such river and the Passaic river to the sound ; 
thence by the sound to Constable's Hook, where it began." These 
original bounds have been much reduced by the formation of Pas- 
saic co., in 1837, and Hudson co., in 1840. It is now bounded N. 
by Rockland co., (New York,) E. by Hudson river, S. by Passaic 
and Hudson counties, and W. by Passaic co. It is 19 miles long, 
E. and W. ; breadth on the E. line 14, and on the W. 9 miles. The 
surface of the central part is generally level or undulating. On 
the W. it is mountainous, and on the E. the lofty trap-ridge, known 
as the " Palisades," extends the whole width of the county, border- 
ing on Hudson river. The soil, particularly in the valleys, is fer- 
tile, and productive in early summer vegetables, apples, straw- 
berries, &c, which find a market in the city of New York. The 
inhabitants are of Dutch origin : many still speak that language, 
preserving much of their primitive simplicity of manners. In the 
valleys of the Hackensack and Saddle rivers, and on the adjacent 
hills, are many small and beautiful farms, with neat cottages, in the 
Dutch style, painted white, surrounded by shrubbery ; the whole 
presenting an air of rural content and thrift. The county is divided 
into the following 7 townships, all of which, excepting Lodi and 
Washington, were incorporated in 1798 : 

Franklin, Harrington, New Barbadoes, Washington, 

Hackensack, Lodi, Saddle River. 

The population of the county, in 1840, was 13,250. 



FRANKLIN. 

This township measures across it, N. and S., 10 miles, and the 
same E. and W. It is bounded N. by Rockland co., (New York,) 
E. by Washington and New Barbadoes, S. by Saddle River and 



72 BERGEN COUNTY. 

Manchester, Passaic co., and W. by Pompton, Passaic co. The 
Saddle river courses on its E. boundary and the Ramapo through 
its western portion. The surface is undulating, and on the W. 
mountainous. The soil is well-cultivated and productive. In 1840, 
the products of the dairies were valued at $19,800, being more 
than double that of any other township in the county ; the products 
of the orchard, $15,547. There were raised 24,003 bushels of oats, 
18,750 bushels of rye, and 18,652 of Indian corn. There were 5 
paper-mills, and 6 cotton manufactories — in the latter of which 
was invested a capital of $22,810, and the value of the cotton 
cloth made $30,812; 15 grist-mills, 25 saw-mills; capital in 
manufactures, $40,633 ; 13 schools, 462 scholars. Population, 4,010. 
Paramus, Hohokus, New Prospect, and Hopper's, are localities in 
the township ; the first of which, 7 miles NW. of Hackensack, 
contains a Reformed Dutch church, and a few dwellings. The re- 
mainder are manufacturing vicinities. 

Wampum, or Indian money, is to the present day made in this 
county, and sold to the Indian traders of the far west. It has been 
manufactured, by the females in this region, from very early times 
for the Indians ; and as every thing connected with this interesting 
race is destined, at no distant period, to exist only in history, we 
annex a description of the manufacture. 

The wampum is made from the thick and blue part of sea-clam- 
shells. The process is simple, but requires a skill only attained by 
long practice. The intense hardness and brittleness of the material 
render it impossible to produce the article by machinery alone. It is 
done by wearing or grinding the shell. The first process is to 
split oft' the thin part with a light sharp hammer. Then it is 
clamped in the sawed crevice of a slender stick, held in both hands, 
and ground smooth on a grindstone, until formed into an eight- 
sided figure, of about an inch in length and nearly half an inch in 
diameter; when it is ready for boring. The shell then is inserted 
into another piece of wood, sawed similarly to the above, but fasten- 
ed firmly to a bench of the size of a common stand. One part of 
the wood projects over the bench, at the end of which hangs a 
weight, causing the sawed orifice to close firmly upon the shell in- 
serted on its under side, and to hold it firmly, as in a vice, ready 
for drilling. The drill is made from an untempered handsaw. 
The operator grinds the drill to a proper shape, and tempers it in 
the flame of a candle. A rude ring, with a groove on its circum- 
ference, is put on it ; around which ' the operator, (seated in font 
of the fastened shell,) curls the string of a common hand-bow. The 
boring commences, by nicely adjusting the point of the drill to the 
centre of the shell ; while the other end is braced against a steel 
plate, on the breast of the operator. About every other sweep of 
the bow, the drill is dexterously drawn out, cleaned of the shelly 
particles by the thumb and finger, above which drops of water 
from a vessel fall down and cool the drill ; which is still kept re- 
volving, by the use of the bow with the other hand, the same as 



BERGEN COUNTY. 73 

though it were in the shell. This operation of boring is the most 
difficult of all, the peculiar motion of the drill rendering it hard 
for the breast ; yet it is performed with a rapidity and grace inter- 
esting to witness. Peculiar care is observed, lest the shell burst 
from heat caused by friction. When bored half way, the wampum 
is reversed, and the same operation repeated. The next process is 
the finishing. A wire, about twelve inches long, is fastened at one 
end to a bench. Under and parallel to the wire is a grindstone, 
fluted on its circumference, hung a little out of the centre, so as to 
be turned by a treadle moved with the foot. The left hand grasps 
the end of the wire, on which are strung the wampum, and, as it 
were, wraps the beads around the fluted or hollow circumference 
of the grindstone. While the grindstone is revolving, the beads 
are held down on to it, and turned round by a flat piece of wood 
held in the right hand, and by the grinding soon become round and 
smooth. They are then strung on hempen strings, about a foot in 
length. From five to ten strings are a day's work for a female. 
They are sold to the country merchants for twelve and a half cents 
a string, always command cash, and constitute the support of many 
poor and worthy families. 



HACKENSACK. 

This township is 10 miles long, with a width varying from 3 to 
5 miles. It is bounded N. by Harrington, E. by Hudson river, S. 
by part of Hudson co., and W. by Lodi and New Barbadoes. On 
the E. the Palisades skirt along the Hudson. The W. part is gen- 
erally level, and contains much meadow-land in the valleys of 
Hackensack river and English creek. The raising of garden 
vegetables for the New York market furnishes support for many 
of the inhabitants. The value in 1840 was $11,726; being more 
than double that of any other township in the county. There are 
4 bridges over the Hackensack, in the township, — one near the vil- 
lage of Hackensack, and at New Milford, at Old Bridge, and at 
New Bridge. These three, with Schraalenberg, Closter, and Mount 
Clinton, contain each a few dwellings. English Neighborhood is a 
thickly settled vicinity, in the south part, 5 miles from Hoboken, 
where there is a Reformed Dutch and a Christ-ian church. The 
township contains 5 stores, 9 grist m., 6 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$300 ; 6 schools, 281 scholars. Population, 2,631. 

The Palisade rocks, with their bold and rugged fronts, commence 
a short distance above the city of New York, and form the western 
bank of the Hudson to Tappan, a distance of twenty miles. Re- 
markable for their picturesque and sublime appearance, they are 
justly considered among the most interesting objects of natural 
scenery in America. In some places they rise almost perpendicu- 
larly from the shore, to the height of five or six hundred feet, and 
form for miles a solid wall of dark frowning rock, impressing the 

10 



74 



BERGEN COUNTY. 




Palisades. Hudson River. 

stranger, as he sails along their base, with the aspect of nature in 
her sterner forms. The summit is slightly undulating table-land, 
averaging in width about two miles, and generally covered with 
wood. From thence the mountain gently descends to the west, and 
is cleared and cultivated, with many neat farm-houses at its base. 
Still further on, is seen the Hackensack quietly coursing through a 
beautiful fertile valley; and in the perspective, the blue outlines of 
distant hills in the interior of the state. 

Fort Lee is a small village on the Hudson, 5 miles SE. of 
Hackensack, and 9 above New York. It consists of about 30 
dwellings, irregularly grouped in a nook at the foot of the Pali- 
sades. It derives its name from the fort built in the war of the rev- 
olution, on the summit of the rocks, about 300 feet above the river, 
overlooking the village. Traces of the ruins of the fortress still 
exist, and until within a short time some of the stone huts used by 
the soldiers were standing. They were small, low, rude structures, 
only large enough for one or two men. In digging the cellar for 
the hotel, a few years since, swords, bullets, bayonets, and other 
military relics were found. The site of the fort is overgrown with 
low trees. 

Fort Washington is on the opposite side of the Hudson, about 
three miles above. When it was taken, Nov. 16, 1776, and the 
garrison put to the sword, tradition affirms that Washington stood 
on " Bluff Point" a high eminence just N. of Fort Lee, and with a 
spyglass witnessing the massacre, appeared greatly agitated, and 



BERGEN COUNTY. 75 

wept. Four days after, the Americans evacuated Fort Lee. The 
following account is from the " American Crisis," by the author of 
"Common Sense." 

As I was with the troops at Fort Lee, and marched with them to the edge of Penn. 
sylvania, I am well acquainted with many circumstances which those who lived at a 
distance knew a little or nothing of. Our situation there was exceedingly cramped, the 
place being on a narrow neck of land, between the North river and Hackensack. Our 
force was inconsiderable, being not one fourth as great as Howe could bring against us. 
We had no army at hand to have relieved the garrison, had we shut ourselves up and 
stood on the defence. Our ammunition, light artillery, and the best part of our stores 
had been removed, upon the apprehension that Howe would endeavor to penetrate the 
Jerseys, in which case Fort Lee could be of no use to us, for it must occur to every 
thinking man, whether in the army or not, that these kind of field forts are only for tem- 
porary purposes, and last in use no longer than the enemy directs his force against the 
particular object which sucli forts are raised to defend. 

Such was our situation and condition at Fort Lee on the morning of the 20th of No- 
vember, when an officer arrived with information that the enemy with two hundred boats 
had landed about seven or eight miles above. Major Gen. Greene, who commanded the 
garrison, immediately ordered them under arms, and sent an express to his Excellency 
Gen. Washington, at the town of Hackensack, distant by the way of the ferry six 
miles. Our first object was to secure the bridge over the Hackensack, which laid up 
the river between the enemy and us ; about six miles from us, and three from them. 
Gen. Washington arrived in about three quarters of an hour, and marched at the head 
of the troops toward the bridge, at which place I expected we should have a brush. How- 
ever, they did not choose to dispute it with us, and the greatest part of our troops went 
over the bridge, the rest over the ferry, except some which passed at a mill on a small 
creek between the bridge and ferry, and made their way through some marshy ground 
up to the town of Hackensack, and there passed the river. We brought off as much 
baggage as the wagons could contain ; the rest was lost. The simple object was to 
bring off the garrison, and to march them on until they could be strengthened by the 
Pennsylvania or Jersey militia, so as to be enabled to make a stand. We staid four days 
at Newark, collected in our outposts, with some of the Jersey militia, and marched out 
twice to meet the enemy on information of their being advancing, though our numbers 
were greatly inferior to theirs. 

A few miles below Fort Lee, at the base of the Palisades, is an- 
other small village called Bulls Ferry, from a ferry which has ex- 
isted there for more than half a century. Immediately below the 
village stood, in the war of the revolution, a small blockhouse, in 
possession of the enemy. It was unsuccessfully stormed by Gen. 
Wayne. The account of this event is thus given by Washington. 

Head Quarters, Bergen Co., July 21, 1780. 

Sir — Having received information that there were considerable numbers of cattle and 
horses in Bergen Neck, within reach of the enemy, and having reason to suspect that 
they meant shortly to draw all supplies of that kind within their lines, I detached Brig. 
Gen. Wayne on the 20th, with the first and second Pennsylvania brigades, with four 
pieces of artillery attached to them, and Col. Moylan's regiment ot dragoons, to bring 
them off. I had it also in contemplation, to attempt at the same time the destruction of 
a blockhouse erected at Bulls Ferry, which served the purpose of covering the enemy's 
wood-cutters, and giving security to a body of refugees, by whom it was garrisoned, and 
who committed depredations upon the well-affected inhabitants for many miles around. 

Gen. Wayne having disposed his troops in such a manner as to guard the different 
landing-places on the Bergen shore, upon which the enemy might throw over troops from 
York Island to intercept his retreat, and having sent down the cavalry to execute the 
business of driving off the flock, proceeded with the first, second, and tenth regiments, 
and the artillery, to the blockhouse, which he surrounded by an abattis and stockade. 
He for some time tried the effect of his field-pieces upon it, but though the fire was kept 
up for an hour, they were found too light to penetrate the logs of which it was construct- 
ed. The troops during this time being galled by a constant fire from the loopholes of the 
house, and seeing no chance of making a breach with cannon, those of the first and sec- 



76 BERGEN COUNTY. 

ond regiments, notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the officers to retain them, rushed 
through the abattis to the foot of the stockade, with the view of forcing an entrance, 
which was found impracticable. This act of intemperate valor was the cause of the loss 
we sustained, and which amounted in the whole to 3 officers wounded, 15 non-commis- 
sioned officers and privates killed, and 46 non-commissioned and privates wounded. 
The wounded officers are Lieutenants Hammond and Crawford, of the first, and Lieut. 
D'Heart of the second, since dead. I cannot but mention his death with regret, as he 
was a young gentleman of amiable qualities, and who promised fair to be serviceable to 
his country. 

The dragoons in the mean time drove off the stock which were found in the Neck ; 
the sloops and wood-boats in the dock near the blockhouse were burnt, and the few peo- 
ple on board them made prisoners. 

I have been thus particular, lest the account of this affair should have reached Phila- 
delphia much exaggerated, as is commonly the case upon such occasions. 
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, 

Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 

GEORGE WASHINGTON. 
To his Excellency, Samuel Huntington, Esa. 

It is stated by tradition, that at the time the Americans drew off, 
the enemy had but a single round left. Had they persevered ten 
minutes longer, the fort would have fallen into their hands. Wayne 
was much chagrined at his want of success, and, on witnessing his 
brave men brought off mortally wounded, shed tears. 

The following are extracts from letters published in the news- 
papers of the time : 

Extract from a letter dated New Barbadoes, Bergen Co., April 22, 1779. 

Yesterday evening Capt. Jon. Hopper, a brave and spirited officer of the militia of 
this county, was basely murdered by a party of ruffians from New York. He discovered 
them breaking open his stable door and hailed them, upon which they fired and wounded 
him : he returned to his house — they followed, burst open the door, and bayoneted him 
in upwards of 20 places. One of them had formerly been a neighbor of his. 

Extract of a letter dated Closter, May 10, 1779. 

This day about 100 of the enemy came by the way of New Dock, attacked this place, 
and carried off Cornelius Tallman, Samuel Demarest, Jacob Cole, and George Buskirk; 
killed Cornelius Demarest ; wounded Hendrick Demarest, Jeremiah Vestervelt, Dow 
Tallman, &c. They burnt the dwelling-houses of Peter Demarest, Matthias Bogart, and 
Cornelius Huylcr, Samuel Demarcst's house and barn, John Banta's house and barn, and 
Cornelius Bogart's and John Vestervelt's barns. They attempted to burn every building 
they entered, but the fire was in some places extinguished. They destroyed all the fur- 
niture, &c, in many houses, and abused many of the women. In their retreat they were 
so closely pursued by the militia, and a few continental troops, that they took orT no cat- 
tle. They were of Buskirk's corps, some of our Closter and old Tappan neighbors, joined 
by a party of negroes. I should have mentioned the negroes first, in order to grace the 
British arms. 

Extract of a letter from New Barbadoes, July 22, 1779. 

On Sunday afternoon, the 10th instant, a party of refugees and lories, in number 
about 20, under the command of a Lieut. Waller, (as it is said,) landed at Closter Dock, 
and advanced to the neighborhood called Closter, from which they collected and drove 
off a considerable number of cattle and horses, in order to carry them on board a sloop 
which they had brought up for that purpose. They were pursued by Captain Harring 
and Thomas Branch, Esq., at the head of a few of their neighbors, hastily collected, 
who recovered all the cattle except two, and a calf, and all the horses save one, and an old 
mare, which they had got on board previous to the arrival of Captain Harring. The 
Captain took two prisoners, seven stand of arms, and three suits of clothes, and obliged 
the enemy to cut their cable, conceal themselves below deck, and let their vessel drive 
with the tide, notwithstanding above 20 vessels in the river attempted to protect them 
by cannonading Captain Harring." 



BERGEN COUNTY. 



77 



HARRINGTON. 

This township was reduced, in 1840, about one half, by the form- 
ation of Washington from the western portion. It approaches in 
form to a square, and measures across it, each way, about 5 miles. 
It is bounded N. by Rockland co., (New York,) E. by Hudson river, 
S. by Hackensack, and W. by Washington. The Palisades skirt it 
on its eastern boundary, and the Hackensack river divides it from 
Washington. The soil is fertile, and the township produces large 
quantities of orchard-fruit. The township contains 3 stores, 4 grist- 
mills, 4 saw-mills ; capital in manufactures $5,200 ; 6 schools, 
154 scholars. Population, 1,130. 




Place of the Execution and Grave of Andre. 

The village of Tappan is just over the boundary line, in the state 
©f New York. The place where Maj. Andre was executed is 
about a quarter of a mile west of the village, within a few hun- 
dred yards of the New Jersey line. It is on an eminence, over- 
looking, to the east, a romantic and fertile valley. A small heap 
of stones, thrown carelessly together, with an upright stake, marks 
the place .of his execution and grave. In August, 1831, the Brit- 
ish consul at New York, (J. Buchanan, Esq.) caused the remains 
of Andre to be disinterred, and conveyed to London. 

The following account of the execution of Andre, which took 
place October 2d, 1780, is given by an eye-witness : 

* I was at that time an artificer in Col. Jeduthun Baldwin's regiment, a part of which 
was stationed within a short distance of the spot where Andre suffered. One of our men, 
(I believe his name was Armstrong,) being one of the oldest and best workmen at his 
trade in the regiment, was selected to make his coffin, which he performed, and painted 
black, agreeably to the custom in those times. 

" At this time Andre was confined, in what was called a Dutch church, a small stone 
building, with only one door, and closely guarded by six sentinels. When the hour ap- 
pointed for his execution arrived, which I believe was two o'clock, P. M., a guard of 
three hundred men were paraded at the place of his confinement. A kind of procession 
was formed by placing the guard in single file on each side of the road. In front were 
a large number of American officers, of high rank, on horseback. These were followed 
by the wagon containing Andre's coffin ; then a large number of officers on foot, with 
Andre in their midst. The procession moved slowly up a moderately-rising hill, I should 



78 BERGEN COUNTY. 

think about a fourth of a mile to the west. On the top was a field without an}*- enclo- 
sure. In this was a very high gallows, made by setting up two poles or crotches, laying 
a pole on the top. The wagon that contained the coffin was drawn directly under the 
gallows. In a short time Andre stepped into the nind end of the wagon ; then on his 
coffin — took off his hat and laid it down — then placed his hands upon his hips, and 
walked very uprightly back and forth, as far as the length of his coffin would permit ; at 
the same time casting his eyes upon the pole over his head, and the whole scenery by 
which he was surrounded. He was dressed in what I should call a complete British 
uniform : his coat was of the brightest scarlet, faced or trimmed with the most beautiful 
green. His under-clothes, or vest and breeches, were bright buff, very similar to those 
worn by military officers in Connecticut, at the present day. He had a long and beauti- 
ful head of hair, which, agreeably to the fashion, was wound with a black riband, and 
hung down his back. All eyes were upon him ; and it is not believed that any officer in 
the British army, placed in his situation, would have appeared better than this unfortu- 
nate man. 

" Not many minutes after he took his stand upon the coffin, the executioner stepped 
into the wagon, with a halter in his hand, on one end of which was what the soldiers in 
those days called a hangman's knot, which he attempted to put over the head and around 
the neck of Andre ; but by a sudden movement of his hand this was prevented. Andre 
took off the handkerchief from his neck, unpinned his shirt-collar, and deliberately took 
the end of the halter, put it over his head, and placed the knot directly under his right 
ear, and drew it very snugly to his neck. He then took from his coat-pocket a handker- 
chief, and tied it over his eyes. This done, the officer that commanded (his name I 
have forgotten) spoke in rather a loud voice, and said that his arms must be tied. Andre 
at once pulled down the handkerchief he had just tied over his eyes, and drew from his 
pocket a second one, and gave to the executioner ; and then replaced his handkerchief. 
His arms were tied just above the elbows, and behind the back. The rope was then 
made fast to the pole overhead. The wagon was very suddenly drawn from under the 
gallows, which, together with the length of rope, gave him a most tremendous swing 
back and forth ; but in a few moments he hung entirely still. During the whole trans- 
action, he appeared as little daunted as Mr. John Rogers, when he was about to be burnt 
at the stake ; but his countenance was rather pale. He remained hanging, I should 
think, from tweny to thirty minutes ; and during that time the chambers of death were 
never stiller than the multitude by which he was surrounded. Orders were given to cut 
the rope, and take him down, without letting him fall. This was done, and his body 
carefully laid on the ground. Shortly after, the guard was withdrawn, and spectators 
were permitted to come forward to view the corpse ; but the crowd was so great that it 
was some time before I could get an opportunity. When I was able to do this, his coat, 
vest, and breeches were taken off, and his body laid in the coffin, covered by some un- 
der-clothes. The top of the coffin was not put on. I viewed the corpse more carefully 
than I had ever done that of any human being before. His head was very much on one 
side, in consequence of the manner in which the halter drew upon his neck. His face 
appeared to be greatly swollen and very black, much resembling a high degree of morti- 
fication. It was indeed a shocking sight to behold. There were at this time, standing 
at the foot of the coffin, two young men, of uncommon short stature — I should think not 
more than four feet high. Their dress was the most gaudy that I ever beheld. One of 
them had the clothes, just taken from Andre, hanging, on Iris arm. I took particular 
pains to learn who they were, and was informed that they were his servants, sent up from 
New York to take care of his clothes ; but what other business I did not learn. 

" I now turned to take a view of the executioner, who was still standing by one of the 
posts of the gallows. I walked nigh enough to bun to have laid my hand upon his 
shoulder, and looked him directly in his face. He appeared to be about twenty-five years 
A age, his beard of two or three weeks' growth, and his whole face covered with what 
appeared to me to be blacking taken from the outside of a greasy pot. A more fright- 
ful-looking being I never beheld : his whole countenance bespoke him to be a fit instru- 
ment for the business he had been doing. Wishing to see the closing of the whole 
business, I remained upon the spot until scarce twenty persons were left ; but the cof- 
fin was still beside the grave, which had previously been dug. I now returned to my tent, 
with my mind deeply imbued with the shocking scene I had been called to witness." 

The following account of the massacre of Col. Baylor's troop, in 
October, 1778, is taken from Ramsay's History of the American 
Revolution, (vol. ii.) This bloody transaction took place (it is 



BERGEN COUNTY. 79 

stated) about two and a half miles SW. of Tappan, in a barn which 
formerly stood near Hackensack river. 

" One of the most disastrous events which occurred at this period of the 
campaign, was the surprise and massacre of an American regiment of light 
dragoons, commanded by Lieut. Col. Baylor. While employed, in a de- 
tached situation, to intercept and watch a British foraging party, they took 
up their lodging in a barn, near Tappan. The officer who commanded the 
party which surprised them was Maj. Gen. Grey. He acquired the name 
of the 'no-flint General,' from his common practice of ordering the men un- 
der his command to take the flints out of their muskets, that they might be 
confined to the use of their bayonets. A party of militia, which had been 
stationed on the road, by which the British advanced, quitted their post, 
without giving any notice to Col. Baylor. This disorderly conduct was the 
occasion of the disaster which followed. Grey's men proceeded with such 
silence and address, that they cut off a sergeant's patrol, without noise, and 
surrounded old Tappan without being discovered. They then rushed in 
upon Baylor's regiment, while they were in a profound sleep. Incapable 
of defence or resistance, cut off from every prospect of selling their lives 
dearly, the surprised dragoons sued for quarters. Unmoved by their sup- 
plications, their adversaries applied the bayonet, and continued its repeated 
thrusts while objects could be found, in which any signs of life appeared. 
A few escaped, and others, after having received from five to eleven bayo- 
net wounds in the trunk of the body, were restored, in course of time, to 
perfect health. Baylor himself was wounded, but not dangerously. He 
lost, in killed, wounded, and taken, 67 privates, out of 104. About 40 were 
made prisoners. These were indebted for their lives to the humanity of 
one of Grey's captains, who gave quarters to the whole fourth troop, though 
contrary to the orders of his superior officers. The circumstance of the at- 
tack being made in the night, when neither order nor discipline can be ob- 
served, may apologize, in some degree, with men of a certain description, 
for this bloody scene. It cannot be maintained that the laws of war re- 
quire that quarters should be given in similar assaults ; but the lovers of 
mankind must ever contend, that the laws of humanity are of superior ob- 
ligation to those of war. The truly brave will spare when resistance 
ceases, and in every case where it can be done in "safety. The perpetra- 
tors of such actions may justly be denominated the enemies of refined so- 
ciety. As far as their example prevails, it tends to arrest the growing hu- 
manity of modern times, and to revive the barbarism of Gothic ages. On 
these principles, the massacre of Col. Baylor's regiment was the subject of 
much complaint. The particulars of it were ascertained, by the oaths of 
sundry credible witnesses, taken before Gov. Livingston, of Jersey ; and 
the whole was submitted to the judgment of the public." 



LODI. 



This township was formed from New Barbadoes, in 1825, and 
reduced in limits, in 1840, by the formation of Hudson co. Its 
length is about 6 miles. It is bounded N. by New Barbadoes, E. 
by Hackensack, S. by Hudson co., and.W. by Hudson co. and Saddle 
River. The Saddle river courses on its western, and the Hacken- 



80 BERGEN COUNTY 

sack on its eastern boundary. As tending to show the preservation 
of the ancient Dutch names in this region, it is mentioned that in 
a sabbath-school, formed in this township, in 1827 or 1828, out of 
41 scholars, 40 bore the name of Yierriance. This township con- 
tains a dyeing and printing establishment, 3 grist-mills, 3 saw-mills ; 
capital in manufactures, $70,000 ; 2 schools, 52 scholars. Popula- 
tion, 687. 



NEW BARBADOES. 

This township is about 7 miles long, and 3i wide. It is bounded 
N. by Washington, E. by Hackensack, S. by Lodi, and W. by Saddle 
River and Franklin. The Hackensack is on the eastern, and 
Saddle river on the western boundary. The surface is generally 
level, or undulating ; the soil is highly cultivated and productive. 
Several sloops ply, on the Hackensack, between here and New 
York, laden with the wood and produce of the country. Popula- 
tion, 2,104. 

Hackensack, the seat of justice for Bergen co., is on the west 
bank of Hackensack river, 13 miles from New York city. The 
town was originally settled by six or eight Dutch families, and in- 
cluded in a patent, granted by the proprietors of East Jersey, to 
Capt. John Berry, commencing about 5 miles below the town, at 
what was then called the Boiling Spring road, and extending to the 
north of it about 2 miles : and bounded on the E. by Hackensack, 
and W. by Saddle River. It was subject to a quit-rent : all the 
titles to lots in the town are derived originally from this grant ; 
but no quit-rents have been paid since the revolution. 

At the commencement of the revolutionary war Hackensack 
contained only about 30 houses. It now has over 200, and a popu- 
lation of about 1,500. There are 4 churches. The Ref. Protestant 
Dutch church is a handsome stone edifice (shown in the annexed 
engraving) on one side of the public green. It is the third built on 
that site. The first was erected in 1696, and the present one in 
1791. There is another in the lower part of the town, erected 
by a congregation formed from the first, styled the " True Re- 
formed Dutch church." The third one, called " The Independent 
church," was formed from the last. There is also a Methodist 
church in the village. The last three are wooden structures erect- 
ed within a few years. The courthouse built in 1819, a handsome 
brick building, is the fourth erected. 

Hackensack is one of the most pleasant villages in the state, 
stretching along through the meadows, on two main streets, for a 
mile or more : back of these is a new street recently laid out. 
There are four streets leading from the front to the rear streets. 
There are several elegant mansions in the town, and a great addi- 
tion is made to its appearance by the cultivation of shade-trees and 
shrubbery. From a hill about a quarter of a mile west is a beau- 



BERGEN COUNTY. 



81 




View of the Courthouse and Church, Hackensack. 

tiful landscape, comprising the whole of the town with its neat 
white buildings, the Hackensack quietly meandering through fertile 
meadows, and in the distance the high hills bounding the Hudson, 
There are 5 large stores, besides several smaller ones, which do an 
extensive business with the surrounding country. Six vessels are 
constantly plying between here and New York ; a considerable 
lumber trade is carried on, and large quantities of pine wood for 
steamboats are brought from Virginia. The town has many me- 
chanics of almost every variety, and 4 taverns, 3 of which are on 
the village green. There are 2 academies and 1 female boarding- 
school, and also a select grammar-school, where young men are 
prepared for college, under the direction of Rev. John S. Mabon, 
A. M. The stone academy built in 1762, was the first erected in 
the village. The frame academy at the upper end of the town has 
been built only a few years. There are three turnpikes leading 
from the place ; one to Fort Lee, one to Paterson, and one to Ho- 
boken. The last was the second chartered in New Jersey* 

"We are indebted to the kindness of an eye-witness, for the fol- 
lowing detailed account of military operations in this place and 
vicinity in the war of the revolution. 

"After the evacuation of Fort Lee in Nov., 1776, and the sur- 
render of Fort Washington to the British, Washington, at the head 
of his army, consisting only of about 3,000 men, having sent on his 
baggage to Acquackanonck, crossed the New Bridge into the town. 
It was about dusk when the head of the troops entered Hacken- 
sack. The night was dark, cold, and rainy, but I had a fair view 
of them from the light of the windows, as they passed on our side 
of the street. They marched two abreast, looked ragged, some 
without a shoe to their feet, and most of them wrapped in their 
blankets. Washington then, and for some time previous, had his 
head-quarters at the residence of Mr. Peter Zabriskie, a private 
house, the supplies for the general's table being furnished by Mr. 

11 



82 BERGEN COUNTY. 

Archibald Campbell, the tavern-keeper. The next evening, af- 
ter the Americans had passed through, the British were encamped 
on the opposite side of the river. We could see their fires about 
100 yards apart, gleaming brilliantly in the gloom of night, ex- 
tending some distance below the town, and more than a mile up 
toward the New Bridge. Washington was still at his quarters, 
and had with him his suite, life-guards, a company of foot, a regi- 
ment of cavalry, and some soldiers from the rear of the army. In 
the morning, before the general left, he rode down to the dock 
where the bridge now is, viewed the enemy's encampment about 
ten or fifteen minutes, and then returned to Mr. Campbell's door 
and called for some wine and water. After he had drunk, and when 
Mr. Campbell was taking the glass from him, the latter, with tears 
streaming down his face, said, ' General, what shall I do, I have a 
family of small children and a little property here ; shall I leave 
it V Washington kindly took his hand and replied, ' Mr. Campbell, 
stay by your property and keep neutral] then bidding him ' good- 
bye,' rode off. About noon the next day, the British took posses- 
sion of the town, and in the afternoon the green was covered with 
Hessians, a horrid, frightful sight to the inhabitants. There were 
between 3,000 and 4,000, with their whiskers, brass caps, and ket- 
tles or brass drums. A part of these same troops were two months 
after taken prisoners at Trenton." 

"In the latter part of March, 1780, a party of about 400 British, 
Hessians, and refugees, passed through Hackensack on their way 
to attack some Pennsylvania troops at Paramus. It was about 3 
o'clock in the night when they entered the lower part of the town. 
All was quiet. A small company of 20 or 30 militia, under Capt. 
John Outwater, had retired for the night to the barracks, barns, and 
out-houses, where those friendly to the American cause generally 
resorted to rest. One half of the enemy marched quietly through, 
When the rear, consisting mostly of Hessians, arrived, they broke 
open the doors and windows, robbed and plundered, and took pris- 
oners a few peaceable inhabitants, among whom was Mr. Archi- 
bald Campbell. This gentleman, who had been for several weeks 
confined to his bed with the rheumatism, they forced into the street 
and compelled to follow them. Often in their rear, they threatened 
to shoot him if he did not hasten his pace. In the subsequent con- 
fusion he escaped and hid in the cellar of a house opposite the 
New Bridge. He lived until 1798, and never experienced a return 
of the rheumatism. 

The Hessians burnt 2 dwellings and the courthouse. The latter 
stood on the west side of the green, 8 or 10 rods from Campbell's 
tavern. Fortunately the wind was from the west and drove the 
flames and sparks over the green, and the tavern was saved by the 
family throwing water over the roof. At this time those in the out- 
houses were aroused, and the militia hastened across the fields, 
mounted horses, and alarmed the troops at Paramus. By the time 
the enemy had arrived at what is now the Red Mills, 4 miles from 



BERGEN COUNTY. 83 

Hackensack, they ascertained the Americans were on their way to 
meet them. Disappointed, they retraced their steps, and when 
near Hackensack turned off to the north, on the road leading to 
the New Bridge, to the left of which there is a range about half a 
mile distant from the road, the intervening ground being level. 
Here the continentals and militia were hurrying over, kept how- 
ever at a distance by large flanking parties of the enemy, who, on 
arriving at the bridge, were detained about two hours in replacing 
the plank torn off by the Americans. In the mean time their par- 
ties were skirmishing with our people. Having crossed over, they 
marched down the east side of the Hackensack through the Eng- 
lish Neighborhood, being pursued 12 miles, to a considerable distance 
within their lines, down to Bergen woods. They lost many killed 
and wounded. There were none killed on our side. A young 
man of the town was wounded by a spent ball, which cut his up- 
per lip, knocked out four front teeth, and was caught in his mouth. 
Capt. Outwater received a ball below the knee, which was never 
extracted. He carried it for many years, and it was buried with him. 

The following account of an exploit performed about one and a 
half miles from the New Bridge, by the celebrated Aaron Burr, then 
in the revolutionary army, is from a statement made by Judge 
G. Gardner. 

"In September, 1777, the regiment called Malcom's regiment 
lay at Suffren's, in the Clove, under the command of Lieutenant- 
colonel Burr. Intelligence having been received that the enemy 
were in Hackensack in great force, and advancing into the coun- 
try, Col. Burr immediately marched with the effective men, except 

a guard to take care of the camp We arrived at Para- 

mus, a distance of 16 miles, before sunset. There were considera- 
ble bodies of militia in great alarm and disorder, and doing much 
mischief to the neighboring farms. They could give no intelligence 
of the enemy but from rumor. They supposed them to be within a 
few miles and advancing. 

" Col. Burr set some of the militia to repair the fences they had 
destroyed, and arranged them as well as time would permit ; and 
having taken measures to secure the troops from surprise, and also 
for the protection of the cornfields, he marched immediately, with 
about 30 of the most active of the regiment, and a few of the mi- 
litia, to ascertain the position and numbers of the enemy. About 
10 o'clock at night, being 3 miles from Hackensack, we got certain 
intelligence that we were within a mile of the picket guard of the 
enemy. Col. Burr then led the men into a wood, and ordered them 
to sleep till he should awake them, of which we had great need, 
having marched more than 30 miles since noon. Col. Burr then 
went alone to discover the position of the enemy. He returned 
about half an hour before day and waked us, and told us that he 
was going to attack the picket of the enemy ; that we had only to 
follow him, and then forbid any man to speak or to fire, on pain of 
death. He then led us between the sentinels in such a way, that 



84 BERGEN COUNTY. 

we were within a few yards of the picket guard before they sus- 
pected our approach. He then gave the word, and we rushed up- 
on them before they had time to take their arms, and the greater 
part were killed. A few prisoners and some accoutrements were 
brought off without the loss of one man. Col. Burr immediately 
sent off an express to Paramus, to order all the troops to move, and 
to rally the country. Our little success had so encouraged the in- 
habitants, that they turned out with great alacrity and put them- 
selves under the command of Col. Burr. But the enemy, probably 
alarmed by these threatening appearances, retreated the next day, 
leaving behind them the greater part of the plunder which they had 
taken." 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard annexed to the church. The first is on a tall granite 
monument in the rear of the building, and the last on a flat 
stone lying horizontally upon the ground, under the willow seen 
in the preceding engraving. 

" In memory of Col. Richard Varick, formerly mayor of the city of New York, and 
at the time of his decease, president of the American Bible Society. Born 25th March, 
1753. Died 3Uth of July, 1631, aged 78 years, 4 months, and 5 days." 



" In memory of Peter Wilson, LL.D., who was born in the parish of Ordignhill in 
the shire of Bamff, Scotland, Nov. 23d, 1746, and emigrated to this county in 1763. 
For many years he was the efficient and successful principal of the academy in this 
place, and afterward of that at Flatbush, L. I., and for 26 years officiated as professor 
of languages in Columbia College. A zealous and successful patriot and Christian, and 
exemplary in all the public, social, and domestic relations which he sustained, he closed 
a life of indefatigable activity and constant usefulness, on the 1st of August, 1825, in 
the 7yth year of his age. ' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. They rest from 
their labors and their works do follow them.' " 



" In memory of the Hon. Brigadier-general Enoch Poor, of the state of New Hamp- 
shire, who departed this life on the 8th day of September, 1760, aged 44 years." 

At the time of the death of General Poor, the American army 
was at Kinerhamach, near the line of New York and New Jersey. 
The funeral was attended by Washington and Lafayette, and the 
procession, composed of a long line of soldiers, both foot and horse, 
extended from the church to the upper end of the town. They 
had 2 field-pieces, which were not discharged, probably on account 
of the vicinity to the enemy. Lafayette, on his last visit to this 
eountry, was shown the grave. He was much affected, and on 
turning away, exclaimed, " Ah ! that was one of my generals !" 



SADDLE RIVER. 

Saddle River, previous to the formation of Passaic co., com- 
prised within its limits what is now Manchester of that co. It was 
then shaped like a saddle, from which it derived its name. It is 
now 7 miles long and 2 wide, and is bounded N. by Franklin, E. 
by New Barbadoes, SE. by Lodi, and W. by Acquackanonck and 
Manchester. The Passaic courses its western and the Saddle 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 85 

river its E. line. The latter merges into the former at the S. point 
of the township. The surface is level, and the soil well-cultivated, 
and very productive in garden vegetables. The township contains 
4 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; 3 schools, 86 scholars. Pop. 828. 



WASHINGTON. 

Washington was formed from the western part t>f Harrington in 
1840. It is about 7 miles long, 5 wide, and is bounded N. by Rock- 
land co., N. Y., E. by Harrington, S. by New Barbadoes, and W. 
by Franklin. The Saddle river courses on its W., and the Hacken- 
sack on its E. boundary. The surface is level and well watered. 
The dairy business is extensively carried on, Paskack, is the name 
of the post-office in this township, 10 miles N. of Hackensack, and 
73 from Trenton. The township contains 6 stores, cap. $7,300 ; 6 
grist-m., 14 saw-m.; cap. in manufac. $5,200 ; 4 schools, 135 schol- 
ars. Pop. 1,833. 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

The bounds of Burlington co. were first established (though not 
with much particularity) in 1694. They were definitely settled by 
the act of 1710. The limits were reduced in 1710 by the forma- 
tion of Hunterdon co., by which the Assanpink creek was made the 
northern boundary, and still further in 1838 by the erection of Mer- 
cer co., when the township of Nottingham was annexed to the new 
county. This county derives its name from the town of Burlington, 
which was early settled by English Friends. It is a long tract, ex- 
tending from the Delaware river to the Atlantic ocean ; being the 
only county that reaches across the width of the state. Its extreme 
length is about 50 miles ; breadth on the NW. about 22, and near 
the SE. end about 13 miles. It is bounded NNW. by the Delaware 
river, N. by Mercer co., ENE. by Monmouth co., SE. by the Atlan- 
tic ocean, and SW. by Atlantic and Gloucester counties. The 
county is of an alluvial formation, composed of sand, gravel, loam, 
and clay, and its surface is generally level or undulating. In the 
interior, a few miles from the Delaware, is a strip of exceedingly 
fertile land several miles wide, on which are some of the finest 
farms in the state, highly cultivated, and much improved by the 
marl which abounds there. The prominent agricultural products 
of the county are wheat, corn, rye, oats, grass, beans, and potatoes. 
Beyond the above tract, for about forty miles, nearly to the sea-shore, 
the whole country is generally a light sandy soil covered princi- 
pally with pines, in which are but few inhabitants, who are occu- 
pied in cutting timber for transportation, or are employed in the 
glass works and iron foundries scattered here and there over its 
surface. Along the sea-shore is a narrow strip of fertile land. 



86 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

The SE. part of the county is watered by the Little Egg Harbor 
river and its branches, which flow to the ocean ; the NW. by the 
Rancocus, Crosswick's creek, and other streams emptying into the 
Delaware. 

Burlington co. is divided into the following 1 1 townships, all of 
which, excepting Washington, were incorporated in 1798. 

Burlington Evesham Mansfield Washington 

Chester Hanover Northampton Willingboro 

Chesterfield Little Egg Harbor Springfield 

The population of the townships now composing the county, in 
1810, was 23,745; in 1820,25,189 ; in 1830,27,209 ; in 1840,32,836. 



BURLINGTON. 

The extreme length of Burlington is 7 miles. It is bounded NE. 
by Mansfield, SE. by Northampton, SW. by Willingboro, and N W. 
by the Delaware river. Pop. 3,434. Its surface is level, or gently 
undulating, and its soil fertile. 

Burlington city, of Burlington township, Burlington county, 20 
miles NE. from Philadelphia, 158 from Washington city, and 12 
SW. from Trenton, is pleasantly situated upon the river Delaware, 
opposite Bristol in Pennsylvania. Among the original purchasers 
of West Jersey lands, were two companies, one composed of some 
" Friends" in Yorkshire, and the other of some " Friends" in Lon- 
don, who each contracted and had patents for considerable shares. 
In 1667, commissioners were sent by them empowered to buy lands 
of the natives, &c. (For the names of the commissioners, see 
Smith's History of New Jersey.) They embarked in the Kent, 
(being the second ship from London to the western parts.) Charles 
II, pleasuring in his barge on the Thames, came alongside and gave 
them his blessing. In June of that year, said commissioners ar- 
rived at an island in the Delaware on the Jersey shore, (now at- 
tached to the main land by causeways and bridges,) called from an 
old Indian chief, Chygoe's Island. Here the two parties above re- 
ferred to agreed to unite in settling a town. Noble, a surveyor 
who came in the first ship, was employed to divide the spot. The 
main street (now High-street) being ascertained, he divided the 
land on each side into lots, the eastern among the Yorkshire pro- 
prietors, the other among the Londoners. To the town, thus by 
mutual consent laid out, the commissioners gave the name first of 
New Beverly, then of Bridlington, and finally Burlington. Corpo- 
ration privileges were first granted to it by the General Assembly 
of New Jersey, in May, 1693, and May, 1695 — the bounds extending 
only to the island. It was incorporated by letters patent of George 
II, A. D. 1734, extending the limits to the township. The present 
charter bears date Dec. 21st, 1784, and declares it to extend the 
length of 3 miles on the river Delaware, and one mile into the 
county from the river at right angles. Prior to 1676, the site of 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



87 




St. Mary's Hall, and Bishop Doane's Residence. 

[The annexed engraving is a representation of St. Mary's Hall seen on the left, and 
of Bishop Doane's residence, a Gothic structure, seen on the right] 

this town was holden by 4 Dutch families, one of whom kept an 
inn for the accommodation of travellers passing to and from the 
settlements on the west shores of the Delaware, and New York. 
It contains about 500 dwellings, and about 3,200 inhabitants, of 
whom about 300 are colored. It has places for divine worship as 
follows : 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 of the Society of Friends (ortho- 
dox,) 1 Baptist, 1 Protestant Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, and two 
meeting-houses of people of color. It has also a city hall and mar- 
ket ; an arsenal ; a lyceum belonging to an incorporated company 
which originated in 1835 ; a valuable and ancient public library ; 
a humane society for the recovery of drowned persons ; an hospital ; 
two large beneficial societies, one formed on the principle of total 
abstinence from all intoxicating drinks ; a large temperance society ; 
two Dorcas societies ; a vigorous and highly commendable society 
instituted in the year 179G, and since incorporated, called " The 
Friendly Institution," and composed chiefly of ladies, for the pri- 
vate relief of distress, and having for its motto the line, 

" To spare the modest blush, — to give unseen." 

The city is supplied with the purest of water by an aqueduct 
company (incorporated A. D. 1804) which obtains its supplies from 
some springs in high ground in the neighborhood. The city also 
owes much to an incorporated meadow company which has stopped 
out the tide, and converted the marshes into excellent meadows. 
It has a celebrated boarding-school conducted by Charles Atherton, 
successor to John Gummere and Samuel Aaron ; also, St. Mary's 
Hall, a large and magnificent boarding-school for girls, delightfully 
situated on the Green Bank, under the exclusive direction of the 
bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church in this state. 



88 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

There is in the city a free-school, chiefly maintained from the rents 
of Mattnicunk, or Burlington Island, given for that purpose by act of 
assembly, Sept. 28th, 1682. This island contains about 300 acres, 
and is divided into two farms. It is in the Delaware, (which is at this 
place over a mile in width,) opposite the city. There are also, a school 
endowed by the Society of Friends, a number of common schools 
for white, and one for colored children. There is a large and 
.flourishing steam saw and grist mill. There are three fire com- 
panies. The Mechanics' Bank of this place does a good and safe 
business, and in public estimation ranks among the first in the state. 
There are four physicians, several practising attorneys, a consider- 
able number of well-conducted and well-supplied stores, devoted 
to general merchandise ; one large drug-store, and several mainly 
devoted to that business. Shoes are extensively manufactured. 
The number of mechanics is large, and these are nearly all pledged 
to total abstinence, together with many other inhabitants, which 
adds to the moral tone for which this city has ever been remarka- 
ble. Burlington was originally the capital of New Jersey, and 
also the seat of justice of the county, but was deprived of these 
advantages in consequence of its location not being sufficiently 
central. The regulation of the city is intrusted to a mayor, re- 
corder, and three aldermen, appointed by the legislature, and six 
common council-men annually elective. It is a place of summer 
resort, on account of its salubrity. The harbor is good. The Cam- 
den and Amboy railroad passes through one of the principal streets ; 
and by means of this and the numerous steamers plying on the 
Delaware, great facilities are afforded for communication with 
Philadelphia. 

By reference to a fair original record now extant, we find that a 
monthly meeting of the Society of Friends was regularly organ- 
ized in Burlington "the 15th of y e 5th mo th 1678." The first item 
of business of this body was to agree " that a collection be made 
once a month for y e use of y e poor." In September of the same 
year it is recorded, " Friends also stak't or mark't out y e burying 
ground, and gave order for y e fencing of itt." The corner-stone of 
the Episcopal church was laid March 25th, 1703. This church, in 
the first charter, granted Oct. 4th, 1704, was called St. Anne's, after 
the name of the queen. But a more ample charter being granted 
in 1709, the church was named St. Mary's, on account of the cor- 
ner-stone having been laid on the day of the annunciation. This 
building has been within a few years enlarged and beautified. The 
river shore is occupied with handsome residences, and the prome- 
nade in front of these, called " Green Bank," is of surpassing beauty, 
and is justly the admiration of all visitors, and of passengers in the 
steamers. 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 89 




St. Mary's Church and Graveyard. 

The above is a view of St. Mary's church, and some of the monu- 
ments in the adjoining graveyard. The monument of Elias Bou- 
dinot, LL.D., the first president of the American Bible Society, is 
seen on the right, having the following inscription : — 

Here lies the remains of the Honorable Elias Boudinot, LL.D. Born on the 2d day 
of May, A. D. 1740. He died on the 24th day of Oct., A. D. 1821. His life was an 
exhibition of fervent piety, of useful talent, and of extensive benevolence. His death 
was the triumph of Christian faith, the consummation of hope, the dawn and the pledge 
of endless felicity. 

To those who knew him not, no words can paint ; 
And those who knew him, know all words are faint. 

Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace. 

The following is a copy of an inscription on another monument 
in this yard : — 

Here lies the remains of WILLIAM BRADFORD, Attorney-general of the United 
States under the Presidency of WASHINGTON ; and previously Attorney-general of 
Pennsylvania and a Judge of the Supreme Court of that state. In private life he had 
acquired the esteem of all his fellow-citizens. In professional attainments he was learned 
as a lawyer, and eloquent as an advocate. In the execution of his public offices, he was 
vigilant, dignified, and impartial. Yet in the bloom of life ; in the maturity of every 
faculty that could invigorate or embellish the human mind ; in the prosecution of the 
most important services that a citizen could render to his country ; in the perfect enjoy- 
ment of the highest honors that public confidence could bestow upon an individual ; 
blessed in all the pleasures which a virtuous reflection could furnish from the past, and 
animated by all the incitements which an honorable ambition could depict in the future — 
he ceased to be mortal. A fever, produced by a fatal assiduity in performing his official 
trust at a crisis interesting to the nation, suddenly terminated his public career, extin- 
guished the splendor of his private prosperity, and on the 23d day of August, 1795, in 
the 40th year of his age, consigned him to the grave — Lamented, Honored, and Be- 
loved. His widow erected this monument to his memory. 

The following notice of the early settlement of Burlington by 
the English, communicated to the Hist. Soc. of Pennsylvania, by 
John F. Watson, was copied from the original autograph of Mrs. 
Mary Smith, a Friend, who arrived with the primitive colonists, 
when she was only four years of age : 

12 



90 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

" Robert Murfin and Ann his wife, living in Nottinghamshire, England, had one 
daughter born there in the year 1674. the 4th of the 2d month, named Mary, (the writer 
of this account, who married the first Daniel Smith of Burlington.) After that, they 
had a son called Robert. 

S ne time after, it came in their minds to move themselves and family into West 
Jersev in America ; and in order thereto, they went to Hull and provided provisions suit- 
able for their necessary occasions, — such as fine flour, butter, cheese, with other suitable 
commodities in good store ; then took their passage in the good ship, the Shield of Stock- 
ton, with Mahlon Stacy, Thomas Lambert, and many more families of good repute and 
worth : and in the voyage there were two died and two born ; so that they landed as 
many as thev took on board. And after about sixteen weeks sailing or on board, they 
arrived at Burlington in the year 167S ; this being the first ship that ever was known to 
come so high up the Delaware river. Then thev landed and made some such dwellings 
as they could for the present time ; — some in caves, and others in palisade-houses secured. 
With that, the Indians, verv numerous, but very civil, for the most part, brought com 
and venison, and sold the English for such things as they needed ; so that the said Eng- 
lish had some new supply to help their old stock, which may well be attributed to the 
good hand of Providence, so to preserve and provide in such a wilderness. 

li I may not omit some Enghsh that came the year before, which landed lower down 
the river, and were gotten to Burlington, who came in some small vessels up to Burling- 
ton before us, — and was so consented to by the Indians. 

" The first comers, with the others that came near that time, made an agreement with 
the Indians for their land, — being after this manner : — From the river to such and such 
creeks ; and was to be paid in goods, after this manner, say — so many match-coats, guns, 
hatchets, hoes, kettles ; two full boxes, with other materials, all in number as agreed 
upon of both Indians and Enghsh. When these goods were gotten from England and 
the Indians paid, then the above-mentioned people surrendered some part of the land to 
settle themselves near the river — for they did not dare to go far from it at first. 

H I must not forget, that these valiant subjects, both to God and their king, did buy 
their land in old England before they entered (upon this engagement,) and after all this, 
did submit themselves to mean living, taking it with thankfulness, mean and coarse ; as 
pounding Indian com one day for the next day ; for there was no mill, except some few 
steed-mills, and (we) thought so well of this kind of hard living, that I never heard them 
say, ' I would I had never come !' which is worth observing, considering how plentifully 
they lived in England. It seems no other than the hand of God, so to send them to 
prepare a place for the future generations. I wish they that come after may consider 
these things, and not be like the children of Israel after they were settled in the land of 
Canaan, forgetting the God of their fathers and following their own vanities ; and sa 
bring displeasure, instead of the blessings of God, upon themselves ; which fall and lo» 
will be very great on all such. 

•■ Now to return to Robert Murfin and his wife : after they came into this land, they 
had one son called John; and in the year 1681, they had another son called William; 
and in the year 1654, they had a daughter called Johanah. Robert and John died young.* 

" It may be observed how God's providence made room for us in a wonderful manner, 
in taking away the Indians. There came a distempert among them so mortal that they 
could not bury all the dead. Others went away, leaving their town. It was said that 
an old Indian king spoke prophetically before his death and said, ' the English should 
increase and the Indians decrease ." " 

In a few years after the first settlement, it would seem as if this 
place had grown to be a place of the first importance, or at least 
comparatively so, as its meridian and latitude was assumed for the 
calculation of the first Almanac, the title-page whereof was as fol- 
lows, to wit : — 

"An Almanac for the year of the Christian account, 1687, particularly respecting 

* " Mary Smith was found drowned with her horse, in the year 1739, near the Long 
Bridge, in the Northern Liberties ; supposed to have occurred from her intending to give 
her horse water, where it was very deep :" that was then the direct and only " road to 
Burlington." 

t This was the small-pox, (brought amongst them by the colonists) which, from the 
manner of treatment, by sweating and then plunging into cold water, was very fatal. 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 91 

the Meridian and Latitude of Burlington, but may indifferently serve all places adja- 
cent. By Daniel Leeds, Student in Agriculture. Printed and sold by William Brad- 
ford,* near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Pro Anno, 1687." 

The early Quaker inhabitants of Burlington were distinguished 
as well for their intelligence as for their piety. Dr. Franklin found 
among them minds congenial to his own, whose society he much 
enjoyed. To go still further back, the following may interest our 
readers as one of the pleasant little traditions of the good old times. 
William Penn, when governor of Pennsylvania, used to sail up in 
his barge from Philadelphia to his manor house at Pennsbury, a 
few miles above Bristol. He would frequently stop on his way to 
visit Governor Jennings, of New Jersey, (who was also a distin- 
guished Quaker minister,) whose house in Burlington is still stand- 
ing. On one occasion, Jennings and some of his friends were en- 
joying their pipes, — a practice which the gentlemanly Penn disliked. 
On hearing that Penn's barge was in sight, they put away their 
pipes, that their friend might not be annoyed, and endeavored to 
conceal from him what they were about. He came in upon them, 
however, somewhat suddenly, and pleasantly remarked that he was 
glad they had sufficient sense of propriety to be ashamed of the 
practice. Jennings, rarely at a loss for an answer, rejoined that 
they were not ashamed, but desisted to avoid hurting a weak 
brother. Another anecdote we will give, illustrative of the sim- 
plicity and genuine hospitality of early days. Somewhere about 
the year 1753, the family of John Smith, (brother to Smith the his- 
torian,) then occupying the venerable, and, in those days, imposing 
mansion of the late excellent Mr. Coleman, were sitting at their 
tea-table under the trees at their door in the main street. A gen- 
tleman (a stranger) passing along, was invited to partake of their 
fare, and was induced, by the conversation that ensued, to settle in 
the place. He became one of the most efficient and valuable citi- 
zens of Burlington, and his family, in the second and third genera- 
tions, are among the most respectable inhabitants. This was the 
first Burlington printer — editor of an ably conducted paper, which 
was commenced Dec. 5th, 1777, and was employed successively by 
the colony and the states. Throughout the war it was the leading 
vehicle of information to the whigs, and Governor Livingston and 
others wrote many effective essays for it. He printed Livingston's 
Philosophic Solitude, a large edition of the Bible, the Burlington 
Almanac, and probably the first continental money. 

We will now relate a tradition of a very different nature. There 
were two old trees of haunted memory. The first is The Witches' 
Tree, a large and noble buttonwood, still standing on that beautiful 
portion of Green Bank formerly occupied by William Franklin, 
when governor of New Jersey. It was planted, by his direction, 
by old Adam Shepherd, father to the well-known Ben. Shepherd. 

* It is believed that W. Bradford set up his, the first printing-press, at Kensington, 
near the Treaty Tree. He landed in 1682 or '3, where Philadelphia soon afterward was 
laid out, and before a house was built. This almanac was his first publication. 



92 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 




Ancient Tree, Burlington. 

This was held to be the favorite resort of witches, who (though 
they were, like all the early reminiscences of the place, strictly 
English) danced around it after the manner of the Kettentanz of 
the German witches on the Hartz mountains. The other was The 
Pirate Tree, a large black- walnut, the enormous stump of which 
may still be seen in the tanyard on Wood-st. Superstition held 
it famous, as the place of deposit for gold and silver, by Blackbeard 
and his associate pirates. It is said that they landed one stormy, 
terrific night, loaded with an unusual quantity of plunder, which 
they buried in silence at the root of this tree, which took its name 
from this circumstance. They covered the gold with " a broad flat 
stone," and having done so, their chieftain called aloud, " Who'll 
guard this wealth V We should have mentioned, that the transac- 
tion was performed in darkness, as well as in silence ; but at this 
question, a vivid flash of lightning revealed the pale and appalled 
countenances of the pirates, who, though ready at all times to dare 
death and to trample on the laws of Heaven and of man. were yet 
unwilling to offer themselves a sacrifice, to be murdered in cold 
blood. Some one, however, must be interred with the gold to pro- 
tect it from depredation ; and at last one of the most reckless out- 
laws, a Spaniard, who had long merited the honors of the neigh- 
boring Gallows Hill, stepped forward and offered himself as their 
victim. He was shot through the brain by Blackbeard. with a 
charmed bullet, which penetrated without occasioning a wound, 
thus leaving him as well prepared as ever for mortal combat, ex- 
cept the trifling circumstance of his being stone dead. He was 
buried in an erect position ; and so well has he performed his trust, 
that, for any evidence we possess to the contrary, the treasure re- 
mains there to the present day. On one occasion, it is said, an at- 
» tempt was made to regain it ; but the hazardous deed will not be 
likely to be repeated while the attendant circumstances are remem- 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 93 

bered. It is suspected by some (though tradition is silent on this 
point) that a black dog was buried with the pirate, since an appa- 
rition of that shape has been seen in Wood-st. by the believers. 
These supernatural appearances are rarely beheld in the present 
day, — for want, doubtless, of that faith which is the only possible 
evidence of certain unseen things. We will close this legend, for 
the introduction of which we crave our readers' pardon, with an 
admirable specimen of the characteristics of an old witch song, 
which is represented as having been heard from the witches dancing 
with linked hands around their favorite tree on the night of the 
Spaniard's interment. Just at its close, they were intruded upon 
by some beings of mortal mould, and uttering something like the 
exclamation of the ancient Scottish witches, 

" Horse and hattock in the devil's name," 

they were all instantly seated upon broomsticks, and rode away at 
a speed exceeding that of the forked lightning. Their next voy- 
age, it is said, was disastrous and fatal. 

CONCERT OF WITCHES. 

Merrily daunce we, merrily daunce we, around the sycamore tree ! 

Full many will daunce this terrible night, but none will be merry but we. 

The ships shall daunce on the yesty waves, the billows shall daunce and roll, 

And many a screech of despair shall rise from many a sin-sick soule I 

Be merry, be merry ; the lightning's flash itself were sufficient light, 

And we've got us a phosphor-gleaming corse to be our candle to-night. 

There never was night more foul and black — there never was fiercer blast — 

Oh many a prank the winds will play, ere this terrible night be past ! 

Be merry ; the fiends are roving now — and death is abroad on the wind — 

Join hands in the daunce, to-morrow's light full many a corse shall find. 

Our sisters are out on mischief bent — the cows their milk shall fail, 

The old maid's cat shall be rode to death, and her lap-dog lose his taile. 

The farmer in vain shall seek his horse — who fastened his stable door 

With key and with bolt — if he has not nailed a horse-shoe firmly o'er. 

1st witch. 
I saw dame Brady sitting alone, 
And I dried up the marrow within her hip bone. 
When she arose she could scarcely limp, — 
Why did I do it ? — she called me foul imp ! 

2d witch. 

I scratched the Justice's swine on the head — 
W T hen he wakes in the morning he'll find them dead. 
And I saw the Pirates land on the shore, 
Loaded with gold, but crimsoned with gore. 

3d witch. 

I saw them bury their golden store at the root of the Pirate tree : 

Bold Blackbeard cried, "Who'll guard this wealth?" and oh ! 'twas mercy to see 

How even the wretch who fears not hell, turns pale at the thought of death ! 

But one bold knave stood bravely out and offered himself for scath. 

" I'll watch it," quo' he — " for these forty years, I've wandered o'er land and sea, 

And I'm tired of doing the devil's work — so bury me under the tree : 

And better I'll rest as I guard this wealth, than you in the realms below, 

Where the soul cannot burst amid endless groans — where the Pirate's soul must go. 

So they shot him dead with a charmed ball, and they laid a broad flat stone 

Deep in the earth above the gold, and they stood the corpse thereon. 



94 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

Now wo betide the daring fool who seeketh that gold to win. 
Let mortals beware of the noble wretch who standeth that grave within. 

4th witch. 

I saw the Pirates enter their boat. 

Sullen they looked, as well they mote — 

I wore a shape which they shook to see, 

And they made the sign of the cross at me. 

But the sign of the cross avails not those 

Whose sins have made all the saints their foes. 

And they fired at me an idle shot, 

For powder and ball could harm me not. 

But skaith and ruth shall be theirs, I ken ; 

We brook not defiance from mortal men. 

There they go rowing adowne the streame, 

I see their oars in the lightning's gleame, 

They are singing the dirge of their comrade low ; 

Sisters, what say you — let's curse them now. 

CONCERT OF WITCHES. 

Away ! away ! the night is foule, but fouler by far are ye ! 

The storm is fierce, but fiercer by far is your terrible destiny ! 

Your vessel shall sink amid mountain waves, and the fearful blasts of hell, 

And you'll dwell for aye with the foule, foule fiend, whom here you have served so well ! 

Some shall go down with a bubbling groan on the ocean's pathless way, 

Some shall be dashed on the flinty rocks — the vulture and sea-bird's prey, 

Some shall be washed alive on shore, to die on the gallows tree, 

But gold, or wife, or children deare, none, none shall live ever to see. 

Away, away, while the tempest howls, and the thunders are heard in wrath, 

Away on your errand of guilt and blood, and destruction attend your path ! 

The following:, communicated by an aged and highly respectable 
gentleman, (still living,) briefly relates an attack upon Old Bur- 
lington : "In the twelfth month, 1776, Count Donop, commanding 
a detachment of Hessians, (say 400,) entered Burlington, and were 
encamped on the premises of Thomas Wetherill, below York 
bridge. Two brass field-pieces were placed in the road, near Robert 
Deacon's corner ; their muskets were stacked in the middle of the 
street, and guards placed near — the troops cooking their provisions. 
Prompted by curiosity, and having obtained permission from home, 
I entered their encampment. Amused with the novelty of the 
scene, so entirely new to me, I for a time forgot both friends and 
home, and tarried longer than prudent. My parents in the mean 
time had become uneasy at my stay, being ignorant of the cause ; 
and my father arrived, in search of me, just as the row-galleys in 
the Delaware, opposite the town, began firing — which apprized us 
of the necessity of seeking a place of safety. On our way home, 
when we arrived at John Neat's, corner of York and Broad streets, 
he was standing at his door ; and hearing the reports of the can- 
non, fired in quick succession, he accosted my father with, ' Mr. 
■ , these are perilous times.' At that instant an eighteen- 
pound double-headed shot struck the back of the house, within less 
than twenty yards of us, broke a large hole through the wall, and 
lodged in the fireplace, driving the ashes out of the front door ; 
which my father observing, said he thought they were firing 
red-hot balls. His wife was standing on the sill of the door, 
and in her fright sprang beyond the porch. On our way home we 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



95 



had to face the cannon, as they fired up York-street. My father 
bade me watch the flash, and immediately fall flat, which we both 
did ; and were favored to arrive safe. We found the family had 
retired to the cellar, which was the retreat chosen by numbers. In 
the spring of 1778, on a first-day afternoon, a number of women 
and children (myself amongst them) assembled on the bank, in 
front of James Kinsey's house, above the town- wharf, to view the 
British naval armament, that had been up the Delaware and de- 
stroyed the American frigates and row-galleys ; and as they had pass- 
ed up peaceably the preceding day, it was not supposed they would 
fire on the town. Now a large sloop, with cannon in her bow, (I 
believe a twenty-four pounder,) approached the wharf. A man 
stood on the quarter-deck, waved his hat, and called aloud, * The 
women and children must leave the bank ; we are going to fire P 
I immediately took shelter behind Abraham Hewling's brick store, 
on the wharf, and watched their movements. I distinctly heard 
the word ' Fire !' (being not two hundred yards from the vessel.) 
The first shot struck Adam Shepherd's stable, below the wharf, 
where several men were standing ; all of whom escaped injury. 
Supposing myself out of danger, I continued an attentive spectator 
to their valiant attack on the peaceful city of Burlington. The 
wind being ahead, the sloop had to tack, and continued firing un- 
til she passed the city. Providentially, not one human being was 
injured, so far as I can learn." 

E \iver__JDelawn r e 



36 5 Water Street 



"US 

11 



Pearl 



12 



Street 




to 




Ancient Plan of Burlington. 
[References. — 1, 1. Old Market-houses. 2. Courthouse, (taken down in 1795 or 1796.) 
3. Gov. Franklin's mansion. 4. Grounds of do. 5. Horace Binney's. 6. Mrs. Ches- 
ter's. 7. Market-house. 8. Place of occasional meetings of the legislature. 9. Resi- 
dence of Samuel Smith, treasurer of the colony. 10. St. Mary's church. 11. Ferry- 
house, (kept by Mr. Shepherd.) 12. Hay's Burlington House, (new.) 13. J. H. Ster- 
ling's house, (built in 1731.) 14. Town-wharf.} 



96 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

The above is an ancient plan of Burlington, showing the situa- 
tion of the most noted buildings, &c., in ancient times. It appears 
that the legislature, both of the colony and state, sat at various 
places besides the courthouse — sometimes at taverns, and other 
public places, and sometimes at private residences. No. 8, on the 
above plan, was a large wooden building, at or near the site of 
James Sterling's celebrated store. No. 9, the residence of Treas- 
urer Smith, was a large brick building, in which the meetings of 
the council were frequently held. It was afterward owned, for 
many years, by Mr. Joshua M. Wallace. It was bought by the late 
Rev. Joseph Maylin, and by him taken down in 1832. 

James Lawrence, a captain in the United States navy, was born 
in Burlington, October 1st, 1781 ; and was the son of John Law- 
rence, Esq., an eminent counsellor. Having a strong predilection 
for a sea-faring life, his friends procured for him a midshipman's 
warrant, when he was between sixteen and seventeen years of age. 
When war was declared against Tripoli, he was promoted to a 
lieutenancy, and appointed to the command of the schooner Enter- 
prise. He volunteered his services in the hazardous exploit of de- 
stroying the Philadelphia, and accompanied Decatur as his first 
lieutenant. At the commencement of the war with Great Britain, 
in 1812, he sailed in the Hornet sloop-of-war, as part of the squad- 
ron that cruised under Commodore Rogers. His second cruise was 
under Commodore Bainbridge. On the 24th of February, 1813, 
the Hornet, under the command of Capt. Lawrence, while cruising 
oiF Demarara, fell in with the British brig Peacock, Capt. Peak, a 
vessel of about equal force. The contest commenced within half 
pistol-shot ; and so tremendous was the lire of the Americans, that 
in less than fifteen minutes the enemy surrendered, and made a 
signal of distress, being in a sinking condition. Notwithstanding 
every exertion to keep her afloat, she sunk, with thirteen of her 
crew, and three Americans, who perished in relieving a conquered 
foe. The slaughter on board the Peacock was very severe ; and 
among the slain was her commander. 

Capt. Lawrence, on his return, was appointed to the command 
of the frigate Chesapeake ; and while lying in Boston roads, nearly 
ready for sea, the British frigate Shannon, Capt. Brooke, appeared 
off the harbor, and made signals expressive of a challenge. Capt. 
Lawrence immediately determined on accepting it, although it ap- 
pears the Chesapeake was not in good order, and the crew not un- 
der proper discipline. On the 1st of June, 1813, the Chesapeake 
put to sea ; and coming up with the Shannon, both vessels ma- 
noeuvred in awful silence until within pistol-shot, when the Shan- 
non opened her fire, and both vessels almost at the same moment 
poured forth tremendous broadsides. The havoc on both sides was 
dreadful ; but the fire of the Shannon was peculiarly fatal, cutting 
down most of the American officers. The Chesapeake had three 
men successively shot down from her helm, which produced irreg- 
ularity in the steering ; and her anchor caught in one of the Shan- 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 97 

non's after-ports, and her guns could not be brought to bear upon 
the enemy. At this juncture the Chesapeake was boarded, Capt. 
Lawrence being mortally wounded. His last words were, as he 
was borne bleeding below, "DonH give up the ship!" Resistance, 
however, was vain, and the ship was surrendered. Capt. Law- 
rence lingered through four days, in extreme bodily pain, and then 
expired. His body was wrapped in the colors of his ship, and was 
buried by the British, at Halifax, with the honors of war. Thence 
it was removed to Salem, Massachusetts, and finally to New York ; 
where there is a monument to his memory, in Trinity churchyard, 
with the following inscription : 

" In memory of Captain James Lawrence, of the United States navy, who fell on the 
1st day of June, 1813, in the 32d year of his age, in the action between the frigates 
Chesapeake and Shannon. He had distinguished himself on various occasions, but par. 
ticularly when commanding the sloop-of-war Hornet, by capturing and sinking his Bri- 
tannic majesty's sloop-of-war Peacock, after a desperate action of fourteen minutes. His 
bravery in action was only equalled by his modesty in triumph, and his magnanimity to 
the vanquished. In private life, he was a gentleman of the most generous and endear- 
ing qualities ; and so acknowledged was his public worth, that the whole nation mourned 
his loss, and the enemy contended with his countrymen who most should honor his remains. 
The Hero, whose remains are here deposited, with his expiring breath expressed his de- 
votion to his country. Neither the fury of battle, the anguish of a mortal wound, nor 
the horrors of approaching death, could subdue his gallant spirit. His dying words 
Were, ' Don't give up the ship !' " 

Note. — The compilers of this work are mainly indebted for the account of Burlington. 
to a communication from Wm. J. Allinson, a gentleman living in the place. The his- 
torical part is evidently drawn up with care and accuracy. 



CHESTER. 

Chester is about 7 miles long, 5 broad, and is bounded NNE. 
by Willingboro, SE. by Evesham, SW. by Waterford, Glou- 
cester co., and NW. by the Delaware. The surface is level and 
undulating, and the soil fertile and under good cultivation. The 
Rancocus flows on its N., and the Pensaukin creek on its SW. 
boundary. The township contains 10 stores, cap. $25,200 ; 3 grist- 
m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $37,100 ; 9 schools, 467 scholars. 
Pop. 2,603. 

The village of Moorestown is pleasantly situated on the road 
from Camden to Freehold, 9 miles from Mount Holly, and 9 from 
Camden. It derives its name from an early settler named Moore, 
It was probably early settled, as Smith, in his history published in 
1765, alludes to it as one of the principal villages of the county. 
It was then sometimes called Chester, and the lower part of it 
Rodney town. Moorestown is well built, and stretches along the 
road for about a mile, which being ornamented with trees, gives it 
a pleasant appearance. It contains 2 hotels, 3 stores, 5 houses for 
public worship, and about 100 dwellings in the village and vicinity. 
The following is a view of the Episcopal church standing at the SW. 
extremity of the village. It is a handsome stone structure, built 

13 



98 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 




View in Moorestown. 

in 1838, at an expense of 84,500. The Baptist church, a short dis- 
tance further up the street, is a neat, plastered edifice. The Meth- 
odist church is a substantial on ct: structure in the central part of 
the village. There are also two meeting-houses at the other end 
of the town, belonging to Friends. There is scarcely a village in 
the state which has so many houses for public worship in propor- 
tion to its population. 

When the British army were on their march from Philadelphia 
to Monmouth, a part of it passed through this village. They en- 
camped on the night of June 19th, 1778, on land now owned by 
Amos Stiles and Benj. Warrington, about 300 yards from the 
Friends meeting-house. The troops plundered many of the inhab- 
itants of the country through which they passed. The people re- 
sorted to various methods to conceal their property. The follow- 
ing anecdote is related of an individual who lived not far from this vi- 
cinity. He had scarcely time to bury his goods under ground, when 
the gleaming of bayonets from a distant hill warned him of the 
approach of the enemy. Fearing the damp appearance of the 
fresh earth would betray the hiding-place, he dashed a pail of wa- 
ter over the spot, and throwing down a quantity of corn called his 
hogs. This well-timed stratagem probably saved his effects. 

Commodore Truxton, the distinguished naval commander, once 
resided in a dwelling now standing about a mile and a half from 
Moorestown on the road to Mount Holly. 

Westfield, on the road from Camden to Burlington, one and a 
half miles E. of the Delaware, contains about 15 dwellings and a 
Friends meeting-house. There are also three other houses for pub- 
lic worship in its vicinity, viz. : a Friends, a Christ-ian, and a Meth- 
odist. Bridgeborough, a small village on the same road, and on 
the Rancocus, contains 2 stores, a tavern, and a few dwellings. 

Ten pieces of silver coin, about two hundred years old, were 
ploughed up some years since in this township, on the farm of P. C. 
Tinucmr.:;, dated 1047, under Fred. Henry, Prince of Orange. 



BURLIXGTON COUNTY. 



99 



CHESTERFIELD. 

This township is about 10 miles long, with an average width of 
5 miles, and is bounded N. by Hamilton, Mercer co., E. by Upper 
Freehold, Monmouth co., and Hanover, S. by Springfield, SW. by 
Mansfield, and W. by the Delaware river. Its surface is level or 
undulating ; soil sandy, with some clay and loam, and made pro- 
ductive by marl. The township contains 22 stores, 3 grist-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $127,780; 11 schools, 557 scholars. Pop. 2,716. 




Arch over the Railroad, Bordentown. 

Bordentown, 9 miles from Burlington, 12 from Mount Holly, and 
7 from Trenton, is at the head of steam navigation on the Dela- 
ware. It is built on a level plain elevated above the river. It 
contains 4 hotels, 8 stores, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist 
church, and a Friends meeting-house, and about 1,800 inhabitants. 
The Belle vue Female Seminary, under the charge of the Rev. W. 
H. Gilder, of the Philadelphia Conference, was commenced in this 
place in Oct., 1842. Bordentown is not only remarkable for its 
neat appearance, but as affording one of the most magnificent riv- 
er views in the country. From the brow of the hill, on which the 
town is situated, to the N. and W., the spectator sees nearly 100 
feet beneath the whole country spread out level for many miles, 
through which winds the Delaware until lost to view behind pro- 
jecting headlands. An autumnal sunset, 

" When the restless day 
Expiring, lays the warbling world asleep," 

is here a scene of glory ; when the forests are robed in brilliant 
tints, the clouds brightened with warm gorgeous hues, and the wa- 
ter reflecting the charms of the heavens and earth upon its sur- 
face, where 

" Shade, unperceived, softens into shade, 
And all forming one harmonious whole." 



100 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

The elegance of the scenery, and the purity of the air in the sum- 
mer, draws to this village many visitors. 

Bordentown is on the direct railroad route from New York to 
Philadelphia, 28 miles from the latter. The two railroads crossing 
New Jersey, the one from Amboy and the other from Jersey city, 
here merge into each other and form one continuous line to Cam- 
den. The above engraving represents the arch over the railroad, 
and under Main-st. It is of stone, 18 feet in height, 22£ broad, and 
83 i feet long. The outlet lock of the Delaware and Raritan canal 
is in front of the town. 

This vicinity was first settled in 1681, by Thomas Farnsworth, 
an English Friend ; but the village derives its name from Joseph 
Borden, an early settler. In the revolutionary struggle, it was sev- 
eral times in possession of the British troops. Early in May, 1778, 
the enemy, then in possession of Philadelphia, sent an expedition 
up the Delaware for the purpose of destroying several vessels 
brought here for safety, and lying in Barnes' and Crosswick's creeks. 
Their force, consisting of two row-galleys and three other armed 
vessels, with twenty-four flat-bottomed boats, carrying GOO or 800 
troops, left that city about 10 o'clock in the evening, intending to 
arrive here before morning. For the first 10 miles the wind was 
fair ; it then died away, and they were obliged to row the remain- 
der of the distance. Early dawn found them opposite Burlington, 
and they did not reach Bordentown until late in the forenoon. Be- 
fore landing, they burnt two frigates at the White Hills, just below 
the village. Afterward they destroyed several smaller vessels, 
the hulk of one of which, at very low tide, is still to be seen in 
Crosswick's creek. On arriving at the village, the enemy burnt 
the dwelling and store of Mr. Joseph Borden, the former of which 
stood in Main-st., on the present site of Mr. John M'Knight's store. 
They also intended the destruction of the dwelling of a Mr. Em- 
ley, an influential whig ; but learning it had been sold, they com- 
mitted no other mischief than breaking in the window-sashes and 
doors with the breeches of their guns. Little or no opposition was 
made to them. They remained but a few hours, and embarked on 
board their vessels in the afternoon. The next day they proceeded 
up the river as far as Bile's island, intending to make a descent 
upon Trenton ; but meeting with unexpected opposition from ar- 
tillery Gen. Dickinson had ordered down for that purpose, and the 
militia having turned out with spirit to oppose them, they judged 
appearances too unfavorable to proceed. On their return, they 
landed at Col. Kirkbride's farm on the Pennsylvania side of the 
Delaware, and destroyed his buildings. Gen. Dickinson having 
sent a detachment of militia down the river, they made prize of a 
sloop the enemy had loaded with plunder, with six men on board. 

The following additional particulars, relating to this incursion, 
were derived from conversation with a resident at the time. Four 
men were murdered in cold blood, after they had surrendered, in 
the vicinity of what is now Hilton's tanyard, at the foot of Walnut- 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 101 

street. They were Joseph Gregory, Edward Isdell, Sutton, 

and another person from Burlington. An old lady, by the name 
of Isdell, was shot in a dwelling then standing opposite the site of 
the present post-office, in Main-street. A British spy, who had 
come from Philadelphia with the troops, and while quietly reposing 
on the river bank, was, through mistake, mortally wounded by his 
friends. His protection was found in his pocket. 

The British officers dined at the dwelling of Francis Hopkinson, 
Esq. Himself and family were absent ; but an excellent dinner 
was provided by Miss Mary Comely, their housekeeper, a young 
lady of about eighteen years of age. While they were there, in- 
formation was given to her that the soldiers were robbing the 
dwelling of her mother and grandmother, on the opposite side of 
the street ; the same that is now owned by Mr. William M'Knight. 
She went in, and privately cut a piece from the .skirt of one of the 
soldiers' coats. When the troops were formed, previous to their 
departure, the thief, through the kind interference of the officers, 
was identified by the hole in his regimentals. By this means, not 
only the property of her relations was restored, but some belonging 
to her neighbors, which she had the art to claim, and afterward re- 
stored to the proper owners. A whig, named Carter, residing in a 
dwelling next above Kester's hotel, on hearing the enemy were 
approaching, determined to disarm their hostility by a kind recep- 
tion. He therefore killed a sheep, and, as the soldiers entered, ac- 
costed them cordially, expressing joy at their arrival. He told them 
he had some fresh mutton, and if they would wait he would pro- 
vide them as good a dinner as in his power ; and then bade the 
" good woman" to hurry, and have every thing in readiness for the 
feast. The men were pleased with his apparent frankness and as- 
siduity, but were obliged to leave before the meal was ready ; and 
it was partaken of by a party of American lighthorse, under 
Capt. Baylor, who entered the village in the latter part of the day. 

Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of In- 
dependence, resided in Bordentown, at the time of the revolution. 
He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1738. After the peace, he held 
a place for some time in the loan-office ; and was afterward ap- 
pointed a judge of the district court of the United States. He died 
May 8th, 1791. He was distinguished for his vivacity and wit, 
and published, during the revolution, several poetical pieces, which 
were highly popular ; among which was the "Battle of the Kegs" 
This ballad was occasioned by a real incident. In January, 1778, 
while the British troops were in possession of Philadelphia, certain 
machines, in the form of kegs, charged with gunpowder, were sent 
down the river, to annoy their shipping, which was anchored be- 
fore the city. The danger of these machines being discovered, the 
British manned the wharves and vessels, and discharged their 
small-arms and cannon at every thing they saw floating in the 
river. The ballad consists of twenty-two stanzas, from which the 
following are selected : 



102 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



" Gallants, attend, and hear a friend 

Trill forth harmonious ditty : 
Strange things I'll tell, winch late befell 

In Philadelphia city. 

'Twas early day, as poets say, 

Just when the sun was rising, 
A soldier stood on log of wood, 

And saw a thing surprising. 

******* 
• These kegs, I'm told, the rebels hold, 

Pack'd up like pickled herring ; 
And they've come down t'attack the town, 

In this new way of ferry'ng.' 

The soldier flew, the sailor too, 

And, scar'd almost to death, sir, 
Wore out their shoes to spread the news, 

And ran till out of breath, sir. 
******* 
Sir William he, snug as a flea, 

Lay all this time a snoring ; 
Nor dream'd of harm, as he lay warm 

In bed *********, 

Now, in a fright, he starts upright, 

Awak'd by such a clatter ; 
He rubs both eyes, and boldly cries, 

' For God's sake, what's the matter?' 

******* 
' Arise, arise !' Sir Erskine cries ; 

' The rebels — more's the pity — 



Without a boat are all afloat, 
And rang'd before the city. 

The motley crew, in vessels new, 
With Satan for their guide, sir, 

Pack'd up in bags, or wooden kegs, 
Come driving down the tide, sir. 

Therefore prepare for bloody war— 
These kegs must all be routed, 

Or surely we despis'd shall be, 
And British courage doubted.' 

The cannons roar from shore to shore; 

The small-arms loud did rattle : 
Since wars began, I'm sure no man 

E'er saw so strange a battle. 

From morn to night, these men of might 

Display'd amazing courage ; 
And when the sun was fairly down 

Retir'd to sup their porridge. 

A hundred mon, with each a pen, 

Or more, upon my word, sir, 
It is most true, would be too few 

Their valor to record, sir. 

Such feats did they perform that day, 
Against those wicked kegs, sir, 

That, years to come, if they get home, 
They'll make their boasts and brags, sir." 




Residence of Joseph Buonaparte, Bordentown. 

The above is a representation of the residence of Joseph Buona- 
parte, Count de Surveilliers, the ex-king of Naples and of Spain, 
and the eldest brother of the Emperor Napoleon. He came to this 
country in 1815, and settled here during the following season, where 
he has generally resided most of the time since. He has, however, 
recently been to Europe, where he has remained for three or four 
years past, leaving his residence here in charge of Mr. Prince. 
The park and grounds of the Count comprise about fourteen hun- 
dred acres, which, from a wild and impoverished tract, he has con- 
verted into a place of beauty, blending the charms of woodland and 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



103 



plantation scenery with a delightful water-prospect. His first man- 
sion, which stood on the site of the present one, was destroyed by 
fire, together with some rare pictures, from the pencils of the first 
masters, whose merit made them invaluable. In the present build- 
ing are busts of all the Buonaparte family, carved from the finest 
Italian marble ; among which is that of Pauline, the Princess Bor- 
ghese, the Emperor's favorite sister, who was considered one of the 
most elegant women of her time. In the collection there is a most 
exquisite statue of the infant Napoleon sleeping. The Count is 
now about seventy-five years of age, polished in manners, and 
charitable to the poor. While here, his time was occupied in plan- 
ning and executing improvements upon his grounds. He did not 
mingle in society ; but was frequently seen walking through 
his park, attending to his workmen, or, with hatchet in hand, lop- 
ping branches from the trees. 




View of Crossicicks from the Bordentown Road. 

Crosswicks and Recklesstown are also villages in this township. 
The latter, 5 m. SE. of Bordentown, is in a fertile country, and 
contains 15 or 20 dwellings. Crosswicks, 4 m. E. of Bordentown, 
on a creek of the same name, and on the road to Freehold, is sup- 
posed to have derived its name from the Indian word Crossweek- 
sung, (signifying a separation]) originally applied to the creek, which 
separates into two branches 2 m. E. of the village. It was first 
settled about 1681, by Friends ; and, in the early history of the 
county, was a place of some importance, — for we find that the pro- 
vincial assembly met here in Oct. 1716. 

The village is principally situated on a ridge considerably ele- 
vated above the creek, across which is a handsome lattice-bridge 
of Town's patent. On the opposite bank is a collection of dwellings 
called Woodwardsville. There are here, including the latter set- 
tlement, several mechanic shops, 4 stores, a grist and a saw mill, 
2 Friends meeting-houses, a Methodist church, and about 70 dwell- 
ings. Near the village is a bed of bog iron ore, formerly exten- 
sively worked and the ore transported to furnaces in the pines. 

When the British troops marched from Philadelphia on their way 



104 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

to Monmouth, in June, 1778, they came through this part of the 
country in three detachments — one by Mt. Holly, one through Co- 
lumbus, and the third by Bordentown. The latter attempted to 
cross Crosswicks creek over a drawbridge near the latter place. 
The continental troops, and a great part of the militia stationed in 
that vicinity under Gen. Dickinson, had been withdrawn, excepting 
those of Cols. Philips and Shreve, who had been previously de- 
tached to guard a ford one mile further up the creek ; and only the 
three regiments of Cols. Frelinghuysen, Van Dike, and Webster 
remained, when a party of the enemy appeared, and with great 
zeal began to repair the bridge, the planks of which had been pulled 
up, and the draw raised. For this purpose, they ripped off the 
planks from an adjoining hayhouse. Upon their approach, the 
troops rushed down with the greatest impetuosity, and a small party 
from one of the regiments, happening to be considerably advanced, 
caused them to retire, with the loss of 4 killed and several wound- 
ed. This detachment then united with the other two at Crosswicks, 
and, in the course of the same day, attempted crossing the bridge 
there, which had also been destroyed by the Americans. Another 
skirmish occurred, in which a British officer and two or three men 
were shot. The wounded officer was conveyed to the dwelling 
now occupied by Mr. Thomas Newell. An American named Clev- 
enger was killed. He had cut away the last sleeper of the bridge, 
and, while retreating, was shot in the back of the head, fell among 
the high grass, and was discovered a few days after by the stench 
of his decaying body. The next day the enemy repaired the bridge 
and proceeded on their march. During this skirmish the Ameri- 
cans, who were stationed on the Woodwardsville side of the creek, 
fired several cannon-balls, one of which lodged in the Friends 
meeting-house, and there remained until the house was repaired, a 
few years since. Soon after the battle of Trenton the American 
troops, for a time, occupied the Friends meeting-house for barracks. 
On Sundays, the benches were arranged and worship held, as usual. 
A gentleman with the troops during these skirmishes, says, in a 
publication of the day, " The conduct of the militia saved, in my 
opinion, Trenton and the country adjacent from rapine and desola- 
tion. In short, their conduct during the whole time gave me the 
most pleasing ideas of the strong love of liberty which is natural to 
the human soul. Surely, while the farmers of the country are in- 
duced, by the mere fondness of freedom, to leave all their domestic 
concerns at this season of the year, and undergo the hardships of a 
soldier's life — to suffer the severest fatigues, and with pleasure face 
every danger, — I say, while this continues — Americans must and 
will be free !" 



EVESHAM. 

This township is 14 m. long, 8 wide ; and is bounded NE. and 
E. by Northampton, S. by Washington and Waterford, Glouces- 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 105 

ter co., W. by Waterford, Gloucester co., and NW. by Chester. 
The surface is level or undulating. In the S. part there is much 
pine timber ; in the other portions, the soil is generally fertile, and 
improved by marl. There are in the township 19 stores, 6 grist- 
m., 12 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $97,600 ; 21 schools, 167 schol- 
ars. Pop. 5,060. 

The village of Medford is 7 m. S. of Mt. Holly. Sixty years 
since, it was called Upper Evesham, and then contained but a few 
houses. Twent} r years later, its present name was given to it. The 




Viejp of the Friends Meeting-house, Medford. 

village is mostly built in a compact manner, on a single street, and 
many of the buildings are of brick. It contains 7 stores, several 
mechanic shops, a bank, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist church, 2 
Friends meeting-houses, and a population of about 700. 

The above is a representation of one of the Friends meeting- 
houses, said to be the largest in the county — measuring 74 ft. long 
by 42 broad. It is constructed of brick, and is a fair specimen of 
the architecture adopted by Friends in their houses for divine wor- 
ship, being substantial in material, and plain and unpretending in 
finish. Mariton, 4| m. W. of Medford, is a new and nourishing 
village, containing 2 stores, a Methodist and a Baptist church, and 
about 30 dwellings. Lower Evesham has 2 stores, a Friends 
meeting, and a few dwellings. At Taunton, 4 m. S. of Medford, 
is a manufactory for edge tools. Chairville, where there is an ex- 
tensive chair factory, Cross Roads, Hartford, and Green Tree, con- 
tain each a few dwellings. 

Capt. Jonathan Beesley, in June, 1778, having been mortally 
wounded, was taken to the dwelling now occupied by Mr. Hinch- 
man Haines, in this township, where he died. He was a captain 
in the Cumberland co. militia, and had been in active service about 
two years previous to his death. Arduous in the cause, and guided 
by a sense of duty, he paid little regard to his personal safety. He 
was in the neighborhood of Haddonfield when the British were on 
their march across the state from Philadelphia. He, with two 
other officers, in reconnoitring, were fired upon by a party of Brit- 
ish secreted in a rye-field, — when he fell, wounded, into their hands. 

14 



106 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

He was conducted to the enemy's camp, and questioned by the 
officers respecting the situation and probable movements of Wash- 
ington's army ; but he peremptorily refused giving them any infor- 
mation. Finding that neither entreaties or threats would prevail 
in extorting any thing from him to the injury of his country, the 
officer in command, seeing his agony, ordered his own surgeon to 
attend him, and to take proper care of him, — at the same time re- 
marking, " he was a brave man, and should not be treated with 
indignity." He lived until the next day, — the enemy taking him 
with them on their march to the dwelling above mentioned, where 
he soon expired, and was buried by them with the honors of war. 
His remains were soon after removed to Haddonfield, and interred 
there in the Friends burying-ground. 



HANOVER. 

This township is nearly triangular in form, its longest side 
measuring 17, and the other two, 13 miles each. It is bounded E. 
by Upper Freehold and Dover, Monmouth co., S. by the N. branch 
of the Rancocus, separating it from Northampton, and W. by Ches- 
terfield and Springfield. Pop. 3,045. The stfrface is level, the 
soil light, and in the N. part fertile and improved by marl. The 
SE. portion is generally covered with pines. The township con- 
tains 1 1 stores, 4 grist m., 8 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. $74,600 ; 9 
schools, 474 scholars. 

Pemberton, 6 miles from Mount Holly, near the SW. corner of 
the township, is built on a gentle elevation between Budd's run and 
the N. branch of the Rancocus. The land in this vicinity was 
originally owned by David Budd, who, about the year 1758, sold 
out to a company of four persons, who built a grist and a saw mill 
on the Rancocus, and called the place " New Mills," in contradis- 
tinction to a mill then standing on Budd's run, on the opposite side 
of the town site. The village was incorporated in 1826 by its 
present name, after James Pemberton. It is thriving, and contains 
3 stores, 1 large saw, and 1 large grist-m., a turning-m., a pump 
manufactory, 2 carriage makers, several mechanic shops, 1 Baptist 
and 2 Methodist churches, and above 100 dwellings. The water- 
power on the Rancocus, on which the mills are situated, is one of 
the best in this region. Shelltown, Arneystown, Cookstown, Han- 
over, Lisbon, Scrabbletown, Greenwood, Wrightstown, Jacobstown, 
and Plattsburgh, lately called Sykestown, are small villages and 
localities in the township. At Jacobstown there is a Baptist church, 
and Methodist societies at Jacobstown and Wrightstown. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard adjoining the Methodist church : — 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. William Budd, who departed this life 28th Sept., 
1809, aged 67 years, 3 months, and 22 days — 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 107 

Stop, passing stranger, learn thy awful doom : 
Ah ! why that solemn and dejected air ? 
Is death so awful, that thou fear'st the tomb ? 
Or life so sweet, thou wouldst not leave its care ? 

The man who fears his God, dreads not the grave, 
Nor is life sweet, when future bliss is sure: 
Religion is the only power can save, 
3 Tis that alone can heavenly joys procure. 

In memory of Rev. John Merrick, who departed this life, July 30th, 1798, aged 
39 years — 

Ye who survey with curious eye 
This tomb where Merrick's ashes lie ; 
His worth through various life attend, 
His virtues learn and mourn liis end. 



LITTLE EGG HARBOR. 

This township comprises the eastern point or section of Burling- 
ton co. It is about 17 miles long, with an average width of 7 
miles, bounded N. by Northampton, E. by Stafford, Monmouth co., 
W. by Washington, and S. by Little Egg Harbor river and bay. 
The soil is light, and a great part of the surface is covered by 
pines. In that part of the township adjoining the ocean, there is 
a marshy tract along the shore from one to three miles in width. 
Tucker's beach fronts the township, and in the Great and Little 
Egg Harbor bays there are numerous islands. In the northern 
part are extensive tracts covered with low pines and scrub oaks, 
known as the East and West Plains, in which deer and grouse 
abound. There are in the township 7 stores, 1 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; 
cap. in manufac. $6,800 ; 7 schools, 285 scholars. Pop. 1,875. 

Tuckerton is situated at the head of an arm of the ocean N. of 
Little Egg Harbor inlet, about six miles from the sea, on both sides 
of a stream called Tuckerton mill creek. It is a port of entry, 
containing a custom-house, 2 houses for divine worship, 1 for 
Friends, and 1 for Episcopal Methodists, 4 stores, two ship-yards, 
in which more or less vessels are built annually, a saw and grist- 
in., several mechanic shops, and about 100 dwellings: distant 
50 miles from Philadelphia, 200 from Washington, and 60 from 
Trenton. 

The district of Little Egg Harbor, and port of Tuckerton, com- 
prises all the shores, waters, bays, rivers, inlets, and creeks from Bar- 
negat inlet to Brigantine inlet, inclusive, 30 miles on the sea-coast, 
and extends to Batsto, at the head of Mullica river, 30 miles more ; 
within which boundaries are several furnaces and forges, one cot- 
ton factory, and one extensive paper-mill. There are about 50 sail 
of vessels enrolled and licensed at the port of Tuckerton. 

Tuckerton was first settled by the whites about the year 1699, 
by Edward Andrews, Mordecai Andrews, Jacob Andrews,* and 

* Jacob Andrews was a considerable proprietor of lands on both sides of Tuckerton 
mill creek. He was in those days a jovial companion, playing on the violin for the en- 



108 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

Daniel Gaunt, from Long Island. Edward Andrews purchased of 
Samuel Jennings a large quantity of land on the east and west 
side of an arm of the sea called Tuckerton creek. About the year 
1704, he erected a grist and saw m. ; and about this time a num- 
ber of settlers moved into this neighborhood by the name of 
Shourds, Parker, Rose, Lippincott, Ong, Ridway, Falkenburg, Mott, 
Carr, Mathis, Orsborn, and Willets. These persons settled each 
side of the creek, then called Andrews mill creek, and the "Middle 
of the Shore." The chief occupation of the inhabitants, then, was 
fishing, fowling, ship-building, manufacturing lumber, such as pine 
and cedar boards, rails and shingles, which were shipped coastwise 
to the cities, and direct to the West Indies. About 1765, Reuben 
Tucker emigrated from the state of New York and purchased the 
whole of the island called Tucker's beach, extending from Little 
Egg Harbor to Brigantine inlet, 10 miles in length, also a planta- 
tion near Tuckerton. In 1778, his son, Ebn. Tucker, located him- 
self in the settlement then called " Middle of the Shore," near An- 
drews mill, then owned by the Shourds family, and at the close of 
the revolutionary war purchased the farm of John and Joseph 
Gaunt, on which the main part of Tuckerton is now built. He 
soon laid out the tract into building lots, built houses, entered 
largely into the mercantile and shipping business, importing his 
groceries direct from the West Indies in exchange for lumber. In 
1780, the people of the village and vicinity met, and resolved that 
the village should be called Tuckerton. In the early part of Wash- 
ington's administration it was established a port of entry for the 
district of Little Egg Harbor, the collector to reside at Tuckerton. 

" There used to be," says Watson, " a considerable exportation 
of sassafras from Egg Harbor. Some vessels went direct to Hol- 
land with it ' north about,' to avoid, I believe, some British orders 
of trade therein. The Dutch made it into a beverage, which they 
sold under the name of sloop. This commerce existed before the 
war of the revolution." 

This was a place of great resort for American privateers during 
the revolutionary war. A vast amount of property was brought 
into this port, captured from the British. Among the rich prizes 
were the ships Venus and Major Pearson from London. Sometimes 
upwards of thirty armed American vessels have been in the har- 
bor at one time. The British generals, at Xew York, finding their 
merchant ships and transports so much annoyed by the privateers 
rendezvousing at Tuckerton, determined to destroy the place. For 
this purpose they dispatched thither an armament of eight or ten 
vessels and 700 men ; the flag-ship being the Zebra sloop-of-war. 

tertainment of his neighbors, and treating them with rum and cider in their dances. He, 
however, came to a sudden pause in this career, "laid aside his violin, became a Friend 
or Quaker in sentiment, and induced his neighbors for several miles around to come to 
meetings at his house, by which means was established a respectable congregation. He 
gave two acres of land, and with the assistance of his friends built a meeting-house for 
the Society, in which, for many years, yearly meetings were held. 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 109 

Gen. Washington hearing of the expedition, dispatched Count Pu- 
laski and his legion, and at the same time sent an express to Tuck- 
erton, and gave information, so that the privateers escaped. Pu- 
laski arrived at Tuckerton three days after the arrival of the Brit- 
ish, who had landed and burnt the village of Chestnut neck, on 
Mullica river, and 10 or 12 houses on Bass river, Tucker's mill, and 
about 30 prize vessels lying in the harbor. As the armament and 
troops retired, they landed at Osborn's island, 4 miles west of Tuck- 
erton, in the night, and having captured a sentinel, compelled him 
to lead them to the spot where Pulaski's picket-guard was station- 
ed. This guard consisted of about 30 men ; they were completely 
surprised by the enemy, who put every one of them to death. 
They then retreated to their shipping, tearing up a bridge in .their 
progress, which prevented Pulaski from overtaking them. As the 
enemy's fleet was going out of the harbor, the Zebra grounded, and 
to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Americans, they 
set her on fire ; and as the fire reached her guns they were dis- 
charged, much to the amusement of the Americans who beheld the 
conflagration. 

During the revolutionary war, in the month of January, (1779, 
it is supposed,) a dreadful shipwreck occurred on the east end of 
Tucker's island. The ship was from Liverpool bound to New York, 
with passengers, among whom were several ladies, and goods, 
comprising heavy articles. She grounded on the bar during a gale 
in the night, bilged, filled with water, but did not immediately 
break to pieces. When the storm abated, it was found that every 
soul on board had perished with the cold ; about 30 bodies drifted 
on shore on Tucker's beach, among whom were a number of offi- 
cers in their regimentals, who were buried on the island. The 
ship finally went to pieces, but nothing of value was saved. Some- 
where about the year 1800, a new inlet broke through Tucker's 
beach, and at the same time closed up Brigantine inlet. This new 
inlet is now the best on the sea-coast of New Jersey, into which 
a vast number of vessels enter for shelter against storms. In 1829 
and 1830, congress appropriated $15,000 to improve Little Egg 
Harbor ; but owing to the bad management of those employed, 
nothing of any use was effected. In 1815, John Hallock, from New 
York, settled at Tuckerton, and introduced the culture of the cas- 
tor bean and the manufacture of castor oil, which for several 
years yielded large profits. In 1816, Daniel Thatcher, from Mas- 
sachusetts, introduced the manufacture of salt by the evaporation 
of salt water, but this business with the other has gone down. 



MANSFIELD. 

This township is about 9 miles long, 5 broad ; and is bounded 
N. by the Delaware river, E. by Chesterfield, S. by Springfield, 
and W. by Burlington. The surface is generally level, and the soil, 



110 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



of which there is a variety, well cultivated and productive. New- 
bold or Biddle island, settled about the year 1683, lies in the Dela- 
ware, opposite the township. The township contains 5 stores, 1 
grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $122,500; 1 academy, 12 
schools, 144 scholars. Pop. 2,401. 

Columbus, the principal village, is in the south part, 12 miles 
from Trenton, 5 from Bordentown, and 7 from Burlington and 
Mount Holly. This vicinity was originally settled by Thomas 
Scattergood, an English Friend. Before leaving his native coun- 
try, he purchased 160 acres, on Craft's creek, for which he paid five 




Central part of Columbus. 

shillings sterling. This farm, now in possession of Mr. C. G. Atkin 
son, is about half a mile from the village. When he first came, 
this region was an unbroken forest, excepting a few clearings made 
by the Indians, for the cultivation of corn. His wife emigrated 
with him. He dug out a cave, on the south bank of the creek, 
where they lived, and reared a family of nine children. This cave 
is now in existence, and near it a spring, from which they obtained 
water. The Indians were very kind, and presented to him beans, 
venison, corn, &c. The generosity of the natives, in his early trials, 
was held in just remembrance. He died, leaving a large estate; 
and in his will requested his children to act kindly, and allow them 
the privilege of residing on his estate, and cutting timber for fuel. 
Some of his descendants are yet living in the township. Columbus 
was founded previous to the American revolution. The names of 
some of the early settlers were Martin Gibbs, Abel Starkey, Thomas 
Kerlin, and Michael Buffin. The place was first known as the 
"Encroaching Corners" which name originated in a quarrel be- 
tween two of the settlers, relating to the right of occupancy of 
land. It was afterward changed to "Black Horse," from a tavern 
in the village, the sign of which had the representation of a black 
horse. This sign is still in existence in the village, and among 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. HI 

elderly people the place now bears this name. About one hundred 
yards south of the tavern was formerly an Indian field, where the 
children of the whites and natives mingled in play. On the estate 
of Thomas Scattergood was an Indian burial-place. 

Columbus is in a fertile and healthy country, and in the summer 
is considerably resorted to by the citizens of Philadelphia. It has 
a library, 3 mercantile stores, about 20 mechanic shops of different 
kinds, 52 dwellings, and nearly 400 inhabitants ; and a Presbyte- 
rian, a Baptist, and a Methodist church. The Delaware and At- 
lantic railroad, used principally for the transportation of timber, 
commences on the Delaware, opposite Newbold island, passes 
through this village in crossing the township, and terminates at or 
near Greenwood, in the south part of Hanover, on the Rancocus. 
Mansfield, about a mile north of Columbus, contains a few dwell- 
ings, and 2 Friends meeting-houses. The Square, and Georgetown, 
contain each a few dwellings. 



NORTHAMPTON. 

This township is about 30 miles long, with a breadth varying 
from 4 to 1 1 miles. It is bounded NE. by Springfield and Hano- 
ver, E. by Monmouth co. and Little Egg Harbor, S. by Washing- 
ton, W. by Evesham and Chester, and NW. by Willingborough and 
Burlington. The surface is generally level or undulating. The 
south and east portion is mostly covered with pines and oaks ; the N. 
and W. part is fertile, and has some of the finest cultivated farms in 
the state. The township contains 7 grist-m., 11 saw-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $238,100 ; 4 academies, 91 students, 6 schools, 386 schol- 
ars. Pop. 6,813. 

Mount Holly, the seat of justice for Burlington co., is in the 
west part of the township, on the North branch of the Rancocus, 
7 miles east of Burlington, and 19 from Trenton. The village is 
pleasantly situated, in a very fertile country, and contains the county 
buildings, 9 mercantile stores, a variety of mechanics, a saw, grist, 
fulling, plaster, and a paper mill, a woollen factory, a bank, 2 news- 
paper printing-offices, a large boarding-school, 1 Presbyterian, 1 
Episcopal, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist church, 2 Friends meeting- 
houses, between 300 and 400 dwellings, and about 2,000 inhabit- 
ants. Mount Holly derives its name from a hill, or mount, seen on 
the left of the engraving, called Mount Holly from the holly-trees 
upon it. This eminence, about 200 feet above the level of the sea, is 
said to be the highest land in the southern portion of New Jersey. 
From its summit an uninterrupted prospect is had, in every direc- 
tion — where no " Alps o'er Alps arise ;" scarce even the blue out- 
lines of far-off hills are seen mellowing away in the distance. One 
here beholds the earth beneath, like a carpeted lawn, interspersed 
with woodland, cultivated fields, and smiling villas. 

Mount Holly was settled by Friends, not long after the settle- 



il2 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 




Southwest View of Mount Holly. 

ment of Burlington. A grist and saw mill was built on the North 
branch of the Rancocus at an early date. It originally bore the 
name of Bridgetown, and previous to the American revolution was 
a village of about 200 houses. " Some porches still remain, on the 
more ancient dwellings, to revive the recollection of the social 
manners which once prevailed, when neighbors freely and uncere- 
moniously visited from house to house, taking the porches for their 
sittings and conversation. They were the delight of the young, 
for they facilitated visits and acquaintance between the sexes. The 
moderns scout them, even while they desire their use." 

In the war. Mount Holly was a place of considerable importance. 
The legislature for a time held its sittings here, and some British 
troops were temporarily quartered upon the inhabitants. The 
houses where they resided were designated by numbers, some of 
which remain, as relics of those perilous times. The late William 
IV., then a young man, was here with the British troops ; between 
whom and the Americans some slight skirmishes ensued. Musket- 
balls are frequently found on Topetoy hill, and vicinity. The yel- 
low-fever in Philadelphia, in 1793, and the massacre of St. Domin- 
go, filled the town with a surplus population. The French, par- 
taking of the volubility and gaiety of their race, made the place 
lively with their conversation ; forming a strong contrast to the 
staid, sober, but no less happy Quaker inhabitants, with whom, 

" With silent course, which no loud storms annoy, 
Glides the smooth current of domestic joy." 

About this period, Stephen Girard, "famous for his riches and 
gifts," landed at Egg Harbor, came across the country on a ped- 
dling tour, and took up his residence in the village. He lived on 
the site of Mrs. Rebecca Rogers' dwelling, in Mill-st., where he 
opened a cigar-shop, and sold raisins, by the penny's worth, to 
children. He is said then to have been " a little, unnoticed man, 
save that the beauty of his wife, whom he married here, worried 
and alienated his mind." 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



113 




View of the County Buildings, Mount Holly. 

The courts of the county were removed from Burlington to 
Mount Holly, in 179G, and the present substantial county build- 
ings soon erected. On the right of the above engraving is the jail, 
a dark stone structure ; the brick edifice, with a cupola, is the court- 
house, and the county offices are in two small brick buildings, one 
of which is seen in the view. There are in the village several ele- 
gant dwellings, among which is conspicuous Dunn's Chinese cot- 
tage, erected by the proprietor of the late Chinese Museum in 
Philadelphia. It is at the base of the mount, at the western en- 
trance of the town, and is a combination of the Chinese and Eng- 
lish cottage style. The grounds are tastefully arranged, and the 
general effect of the whole is light, fanciful, and extremely pictu- 
resque. A little north, and also at the foot of the mount, a ceme- 
tery has recently been laid out, promising to be, in the course of a 
few years, one of the most elegant in the country. Amonp- other 
curiosities of the village is the sign-post, fronting Stryker ? s hotel 
worthy of notice from having been one of the masts of the Hyder 
Ali, a noted privateer in the American revolution. 

In the war of the revolution a singular cannon was made by a 
person who afterward lived in the village. It was constructed of 
wrought-iron staves, hooped like a barrel with bands of the same 
material, excepting there were four layers of staves breaking joint 
all of which were firmly bound together, and then bored and breech- 
ed like other cannon. The artisan died only a few years since in 
Pennsylvania. The annexed notice of his death is from a paper 
published at the time. « Died on Sunday, the 19th ultimo, William 
Denning, in the 94th year of his age. The deceased was an arti- 
ficer m thearmy of the revolution,— he it was, who in the day of 
his country s need, made the only successful attempt ever made in the 
world to manufacture wrought-iron cannon, one of which he com- 
pleted in Middlesex, Penn., and commenced another and larger 

15 



114 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



one at Mount Holly ; but could get no one to assist him who could 
stand the heat, which is said to have been so severe as to melt, the 
lend buttons on his coat" The unfinished piece is now in the Phil- 
adelphia arsenal. " The one completed was taken by the British 
at the battle of Brandywine, and is now in the tower of London. 
The British offered a stated annuity and a large sum to the person 
who would instruct them in the manufacture of that article ; but 
the patriotic blacksmith preferred obscurity and poverty in his own 
beloved country, though the country for which he had done so 
much, kept her purse closed from the veteran soldier until near 
the period of his decease." 




Woolman House, near Mount Holly. 

The above is a representation of the " Woolman Place," situated 
a little out of the village of Mount Holly, on the road to Spring- 
field. The house represented was built according to the particular 
directions of John Woolman, the celebrated travelling preacher 
among the Friends, and in which his wife and daughter resided af- 
ter his decease. John Woolman was distinguished for purity of 
heart and benevolence of principle, one of the genuine nobility of 
the human race. He was born in Northampton, Burlington co., 
N. J., in 1720. At a very early age his mind was drawn toward 
religious subjects. When about eighteen years of age he was 
powerfully impressed with religious truth, and with a strong and 
prayerful desire to be delivered from the power of sin. 

In his Journal he writes, " I kept steadily to meetings ; spent 
first-days' afternoon chiefly in reading the scriptures and other good 
books, and was early convinced in my own mind, that true religion 
consisted in an inward life, wherein the heart doth love and rever- 
ence God the Creator, and learns to exercise true justice and good- 
ness, not only toward all men, but also toward the brute crea- 
tures — that as the mind was moved by an inward principle to love 
God as an invisible, incomprehensible Being, by the same principle 
it was moved to love him in all his manifestations in the visible 
world — that as by his breath the flame of life was kindled in all 
animal sensible creatures, to say we love God as unseen, and, at 
the same time, exercise cruelty toward the least creature moving 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 115 

by his life, or by life derived from him, was a contradiction in itself. 
I found no narrowness respecting sects and opinions ; but believed 
that sincere, upright-hearted people in every society, who truly 
love God, were accepted of him. As I lived under the cross, and 
simply followed the openings of truth, my mind, from day to day, 
was more enlightened." 

Mr. Woolman lived with his parents and "wrought on his fa- 
ther's plantation, till he was about twenty-one years of age, when 
he hired himself to tend a shop and keep the books of a man who 
did business at Mount Holly, about five miles from his father's 
house. His employer, though a retailer of goods, was by trade a 
tailor, and kept a servant-man at that business, of whom Mr. Wool- 
man learned his trade. His first religious visit or tour was into 
East Jersey, in 1743, and in 1749 he was married to Sarah Ellis. 
Woolman, from the commencement of his religious course, felt 
himself bound to give his testimony against slavery, then so preva- 
lent in all the colonies, and even to a considerable extent among 
Friends. He was frequently called to write wills for those who 
resided in his vicinity, but although a profitable business, he re- 
fused to write any in which the right of holding human beings as 
property was acknowledged. 

Until this year, 1756, I continued to retail goods, besides following my trade as a 
tailor, about which time I grew uneasy on account of my business growing too cumber- 
some. I had begun with selling trimmings for garments, and from thence proceeded to 
selling cloths and linens ; and at length, having got a considerable shop of goods, my 
trade increased every year, and the road to large business appeared to be open ; but I 
felt a stop in my mind. 

Through the mercies of the Almighty, I had, in a good degree, learned to be con- 
tent with a plain way of living. I had but a small family, and on serious consideration, 
I believed truth did not require me to engage in much cumbering affairs. It had been 
my general practice to buy and sell things really useful. Things that served chiefly to 
please the vain mind in people, I was not easy to trade in ; seldom did it ; and, when- 
ever I did, I found it weakened me as a Christian. The increase of business became 
my burden ; for, though my natural inclination was toward merchandise, yet I believed 
Truth required me to live more free from outward cumbers ; and there was now a strife 
in my mind between the two ; and in this exercise my prayers were put up to the Lord, 
who graciously heard me and gave me a heart resigned to his holy will. Then I lessened 
my outward business, and, as I had opportunity, told my customers of my intentions, 
that they might consider what shop to turn to, and in a while, wholly laid down mer- 
chandise, following my trade as a tailor, myself only, having no apprentice. I also had 
a nursery of apple-trees, in which I employed some of my time in hoeing, grafting, trim- 
ming, and inoculating. In merchandise it is the custom where I lived to sell chiefly on 
credit, and poor people often get in debt ; and when payment is expected, not having 
wherewith to pay, their creditors often sue for it at law. Having often observed occur- 
rences of this kind, I found it good for me to advise poor people to take such goods as 
were most useful and not costly. 

In the time of trading, I had an opportunity of seeing, that the too liberal use of 
spirituous liquors, and the custom of wearing too costly apparel, led some people into 
great inconveniences ; and these two things appear to be often connected one with the 
other; for, by not attending to that use of things which is consistent with universal 
righteousness, there is an increase of labor which extends beyond what our heavenly 
Father intends for us ; and by great labor, and often by much sweating, there is, even 
among such who are not drunkards, a craving of some liquors to revive the spirits ; that 
partly by the luxurious drinking of some, and partly by the drinking of others, (led to it 
through immoderate labor,) very great quantities of rum are every year expended in our 
colonies ; the greater part of which we should have no need of, did we steadily attend to 
pure wisdom. 



116 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

During the French war in 1757, Aug. 9th, the military officers 
of Burlington county received orders to draft from the militia a 
body of soldiers to go to the relief of Fort William Henry, then in- 
vested by the French and Indians. The militia were reviewed at 
Mount Holly and sent off under some officers. This was a time of 
trial for many Friends ; but by the forbearance of the officers, 
such as were drafted were allowed to remain at home. 

On the fourth day of the fourth month, in the year 1758, orders came to some officers 
in Mount Holly, to prepare quarters a short time for about one hundred soldiers ; and an 
officer and two other men, all inhabitants of our town, came to my house ; and the offi- 
cer told me he came to speak with me, to provide lodging and entertainment for two sol 
diers, there being six shillings a week per man allowed as pay for it. The case being 
new and unexpected, I made no answer suddenly, but sat a time silent, my mind being 
inward ; I was fully convinced that the proceedings in war are inconsistent with the 
purity of the Christian religion ; and to be hired to entertain men who were then under 
pay as soldiers, was a difficulty with me. I expected they had legal authority for what 
they did, and after a short time I said to the officer, If the men are sent here for enter- 
tainment, I believe I shall not refuse to admit them into my house. But the nature of 
the case is such, that I expect I cannot keep them on hire. One of the men intimated 
that he thought I might do it consistent with my religious principles, to which I made 
no reply, as believing silence at that time best for me. Though they spake of two, there 
came only one, who tarried at my house about two weeks, and behaved himself civilly ; 
and when the officer came to pay me, I told him I could not take pay for it, having ad- 
mitted him into my house in a passive obedience to authority. I was on horseback 
when he spake to me ; and as I turned from him, he said he was obliged' to me, to which 
I said nothing ; but thinking on the expression, grew uneasy ; and afterward being near 
where he lived, I went and told him on what grounds I refused pay for keeping the 
soldier. 

Mr. Woolman died at York, England, while on a religious visit 
to that country in 1772. His opinions on plainness of dress, &c, 
was carried to a greater extent than would be thought necessary 
at this time. In the latter part of his life he allowed his beard to 
grow, and when of an inconvenient length, clipped it with scissors. 
He wore clothing of the natural color ; the woollen white, the lin- 
en flax. The following summary account of his life is from the 
testimony of the monthly meeting of Friends, prefixed to the vol- 
ume entitled " The Works of John Woolman." 

A TESTIMONY of the monthly meeting of Friends, held in Burlington, the first 
day of the eighth month, in the year of our Lord 1774, concerning our esteemed friend, 
John Woolman, deceased. 

He was born in Northampton, in the county of Burlington, and province of West New 
Jersey, in the eighth month, 1720, of religious parents, who instructed him very early in 
the principles of the Christian religion, as professed by the people called Quakers, which 
he esteemed a blessing to him, even in young years, tending to preserve him from the 
infection of wicked children ; but through the workings of the enemy, and levity inci- 
dent to youth, he frequently deviated from those parental precepts, by which he laid a 
renewed foundation for repentance, that was finally succeeded by a godly sorrow not to 
be repented of, and so became acquainted with that sanctifying power which qualifies 
for true gospel ministry, into which he was called about the twenty.second year of his 
age ; and by a faithful use of the talents committed to him, he experienced an increase, 
until he arrived at the state of a father capable of dividing the word aright to the different 
states he ministered unto, dispensing milk to babes, and meat to those of riper years. 
Thus he found the efficacy of that power to arise, which, in his own expressions, " pre- 
pares the creature to stand like a trumpet through which the Lord speaks to his people." 
He was a loving husband, a tender father, and very humane to every part of the crea- 
tion under his care. 

His concern for the poor and those in affliction, was evident by his visits to them, 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 117 

whom he frequently relieved by his assistance and charity. He was for many years 
deeply exercised on account of the poor enslaved Africans, whose cause, as he some- 
times mentioned, lay almost continually upon him, and to obtain liberty to those cap- 
tives, he labored both in public and in private, and was favored to see his endeavors 
crowned with considerable success. He was particularly desirous that Friends should 
not be instrumental to lay burdens on this oppressed people, but remember the days of 
suffering from which they had been providentially delivered, that if times of trouble 
should return, no injustice dealt to those in slavery might rise in judgment against us ; 
but, being clear, we might on such occasions address the Almighty with a degree of 
confidence, for his interposition and relief, being particularly careful as to himself, not to 
countenance slavery even by the use of those conveniences of life which were furnished 
by their labor. 

He was desirous to have his own and the minds of others redeemed from the pleasures 
and immoderate profits of this world, and to fix them on those joys which fade not 
away ; his principal care being after a life of purity, endeavoring to avoid not only the 
grosser pollutions, but those also which, appearing in a more refined dress, are not suffi- 
ciently guarded against by some well-disposed people. In the latter part of his life he 
was remarkable for the plainness and simplicity of his dress, and as much as possible 
avoiding the use of plate, costly furniture, and feasting ; thereby endeavoring to become 
an example of temperance and self-denial, which he believed himself called unto, and 
was favored with peace therein, although it carried the appearance of great austerity in 
the view of some. He was very moderate in his charges in the way of business, and in 
his desires after gain ; and, though a man of industry, avoided and strove much to lead 
others out of extreme labor and anxiousness after perishable things, being desirous that the 
strength of our bodies might not be spent in procuring things unprofitable, and that we 
might use moderation and kindness to the brute animals under our care, to prize the use 
of them as a great favor, and by no means abuse them ; that the gifts of Providence 
should thankfully be received and applied to the uses for which they were designed. 

He several times opened a school at Mount Holly for the instruction of poor Friends' 
children and others, being concerned for their help and improvement therein. His love 
and care for the rising youth among us was truly great, recommending to parents and 
those who have the charge of them, to choose conscientious and pious tutors, saying, 
" It is a lovely sight to behold innocent children," and that " to labor for their help 
against that which would mar the beauty of their minds, is a debt we owe them." 

His ministry was sound, very deep and penetrating, sometimes pointing out the dan- 
gerous situation which indulgence and custom leads into, frequently exhorting others, 
especially the youth, not to be discouraged at the difficulties which occur, but press after 
purity. He often expressed an earnest engagement that pure wisdom should be attended 
to, which would lead into lowliness of mind and resignation to the Divine will, in which 
state small possessions here would be sufficient. 

In transacting the affairs of discipline, his judgment was sound and clear, and he was 
very useful in treating with those who had done amiss ; he visited such in a private 
way, in that plainness which truth dictates, showing great tenderness and Christian for- 
bearance. He was a constant attender of our yearly meeting, in which he was a good 
example, and particularly useful ; assisting in the business thereof with great weight 
and attention. He several times visited most of the meetings of Friends in this and 
the neighboring provinces, with the concurrence of the monthly meeting to which he 
belonged, and we have reason to believe had good service therein, generally or always 
expressing at his return, how it had fared with him, and the evidence of peace in his 
own mind for thus performing his duty. He was often concerned with other Friends in 
the important service of visiting families, which he was enabled to go through with sat- 
isfaction. 

In the minutes of the meeting of ministers and elders for this quarter, at the foot of 
the list of members for that meeting, made about five years before his death, we find in 
his handwriting the following observation and reflection : — " As looking over the 
minutes made by persons who have put off this body, hath sometimes revived in me a 
thought how many ages pass away ; so this list may probably revive a thought in some, 
when I and the rest of the persons aboved-named are centred in another state of being. 
The Lord who was the guide of my youth, hath in tender mercies helped me hitherto ; 
he hath healed me of wounds ; he hath helped me out of grievous entanglements ; he 
remains to be the strength of my life ; to whom I desire to devote myself in time and 
eternity." Signed, John Woolman. 

In the twelfth month, 1771, he acquainted this meeting that he found his mind drawn 



118 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

toward a religious visit to Friends in some parts of England, particularly Yorkshire. 
In the first month, 1772, he obtained our certificate, which was approved and endorsed 
by our quarterly meeting of ministers and elders at Philadelphia. He embarked on his 
voyage on the fifth and arrived in London on the sixth month following, at the time of 
their annual meeting in that city. During his short visit to Friends in that kingdom, 
we are informed that his services were acceptable and edifying. In his last illness he 
uttered many lively and comfortable expressions, being " perfectly resigned, having no 
will either to live or to die," as appears by testimony of Friends at York, in Great Brit- 
ain, in the suburbs whereof, at the house of our friend Thomas Priestman, he died of the 
small-pox, on the seventh day of the tenth month, 1772, and was buried in Friends' 
burying-ground in that city, on the ninth of the same, after a large and solid meeting 
held on the occasion, at their great meeting-house, aged nearly fifty-two years ; a minis- 
ter upwards of thirty years, during which time he belonged to Mount Holly particular 
meeting, which he diligently attended when at home and in health of body, and his la- 
bors of love and pious care for the prosperity of Friends in the blessed Truth, we hope 
may not be forgotten, but that his good works may be remembered to edification. 

Signed in and by order of the said meeting by Samuel Allinsox, Cleric. 

Read and approved at our quarterly meeting, held at Burlington, the 29th of the 8th 
month, 1774. 

Signed by order of said meeting, Daniel Smith, Clerk. 

Lumberton, two and a half miles from Mount Holly, on the south 
branch of the Rancocus, contains a store, a f:i;is> manufactory, a 
:S.i.«.f -mill, a Methodist church, and 45 dwellings. It lies at the head 
of navigation. A considerable number of vessels, sloops, scows, 
&c, run from here to Philadelphia with lumber and charcoal. A 
little more than half a century since, there were only 11 dwellings 
in the place. The names of some of the inhabitants at that period 
were iSolomon Gaskell, a blind preacher ; Joseph and Richard Ed- 
wards, storekeepers ; Eber More, carpenter ; John Wilson, tanner ; 
John Barefoot, James Rogers, John Armstrong, and Isaac and 
Thomas Smith. Eayrs-town, three and a half miles from Mount 
Holly, on the south branch of the Rancocus, has a grist, saw, and a 
fulling mill, and about 20 dwellings. Shreve's Mills are two and 
a half miles from Mount Holly, on the North branch of the Ranco- 
cus. Buddstown, on the Stop-the-jade creek, about eight miles 
from the courthouse, on the edge of the pines, contains 2 stores, a 
saw-mill, several mechanics, and about 30 dwellings. Birming- 
ham, four miles E. of Mount Holly, on the North branch of the 
Rancocus, contains a grist, saw, and fulling mill, and about 20 
dwellings. There are several other localities, situated principally 
among the pines. They are Red Lion, Mount Misery, Ong's Hat, 
Burr's Mills, White Horse, Friendship, Pine Cabin, Tabernacle, 
Retreat Factory. Prickets, Mary Ann, Half- Way, Turpentine, and 
Timbuctoo. Vincent-town, five miles SE. of Mount Holly, at the 
junction of Stop-the-jade creek with the South branch of the 
Rancocus, is a flourishing village, mostly grown up since the revo- 
lutionary war. 

The village is compactly built, principally on a single street, 
with a slight elevation to the southeast, of which the annexed view, 
taken near the store of R. H. Woolston, is a representation. It 
contains 4 stores, a grist, saw, and turning mill, an extensive tan- 
nery, a select school, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist church, and a Friends 
meeting, 90 dwellings, and about 600 inhabitants. In this vicinity 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 



119 




Central View in Vincent-town. 

excellent cuirim-r'-i'miu- is found. There was anciently a settle- 
ment of Indians about a mile west of Vincent-town, on Quakeson 
creek, where stood a log church, in which the Rev. John Brainard, 
a brother of the celebrated missionary, occasionally preached. 
This clergyman lived at Mount Holly during the American revolu- 
tion, in a dwelling now occupied by John Gibson, in the E. part of 
Brainard-st., where he died. The Presbyterian church in which he 
officiated at Mount Holly, was burnt in the war ; whether by acci- 
dent or design is unknown. 

The following account of a hermit, residing near the western 
line of the township over 60 years since, is extracted from a news- 
paper of the time. 

On the 19th inst. (Jan. 1778) died, in the 66th year of his age, Francis Furgler, the 
hermit, who existed alone twenty-five years, in a thick wood about four miles from Bur- 
lington, through all the inclemencies of the seasons, without fire, in a cell made by the 
side of an old log, in the form of an oven, not high or long enough to stand upright in, 
or lie extended. His recluse manner of living excited the curiosity of strangers, by 
whom he was often visited. His reasons for thus secluding himself from human society 
we believe he never communicated to any person in these parts, but it is thought he 
meant by it to do penance for crimes committed in his own country ; for he was a man 
subject to violent passions. He subsisted upon nuts, and the charity of the people in 
the neighborhood. From whence he came, or who he was, nobody could find out, but 
appeared to be by his dialect a German, yet he spoke that language imperfectly, either 
through design, or from some defect in his intellects. The evening before his death a 
friend carried him a little nourishment, of which he partook, earnestly praying for his 
dissolution ; and would not suffer himself to be removed to a more comfortable dwelling. 
Next morning he was found dead in his cell, with a crucifix and a brass fish by his side ; 
and on the 20th he was decently interred in Friends' burying-place at Mount Holly. 



SPRINGFIELD. 

Springfield is triangular in form, its longest side measuring 10, 
and the others 7 and 9 miles in length. It is bounded N. by Mans- 



120 BURLINGTON COUNTY. 

field, SE. by Hanover, and SW. by Northampton and Burlington. 
There are in the township 3 stores, cap. in manufac. $6,320 ; 7 
schools, 41 1 scholars. Pop. 1,630. The surface is mostly level, and 
soil sandy loam, and generally very fertile. The township was 
settled by Friends, between the years 1682 and 1695, principally 
emigrants from Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and the adjoining counties 
in England. Some of the early settlers, however, were from Long 
Island, and the state of Rhode Island. The Assiscunk and Earker's 
creek, and also North run, formerly called Tomlinson's run, one of 
the principal tributaries of Crosswick's creek, rises in the town- 
ship. The two first head on the marl region, and have on them 
large tracts of superior meadow. The farms of the township are 
large, with substantial dwellings and barns, and are well adapted 
to the culture of grain and grass. Large numbers of live-stock 
are raised, particularly in the marl district. Juliustown, the largest 
village, named from Julius Evans, is 7 miles NE. of Mount Holly, 
and contains about 30 dwellings, and a Methodist church. Jobs- 
town, 6 miles from Mount Holly, on the road to Freehold, contains 
a few dwellings. It is named from Job Lippincott, who owned a 
chief part of the land in the vicinity, and built a tavern there about 
the year 1798. Jacksonville, in the NW. part of the township, has 
2 stores, a Methodist church, and about 12 dwellings. There are 
in Springfield 3 Friends meeting-houses, — one of brick, built at Up- 
per Springfield in 1727, about 3 miles E. of Jobs-town ; one of 
brick at old Springfield, half a mile E. of Jacksonville ; and one 
of stone at the Mount, about a mile westerly of Juliustown. 



WASHINGTON. 

This township was formed in 1802, from Northampton, Evesham, 
and Little Egg Harbor. It is nearly triangular in form ; its north- 
ern line measuring about 21. its eastern 15, and its southwestern 23 
miles. It is bounded N. by Northampton and Evesham, E. by Little 
Egg Harbor, and SW. by Mullica and Galloway, Atlantic co., and 
Waterford, Gloucester co. The surface is level ; soil generally 
sandy and covered with pines. It is thinly settled and has few in- 
habitants, excepting such as are employed in the glass and iron 
works. The vicinity of the Quaker bridge, in this township, is a 
remarkably interesting botanical region, there being there many 
rare and beautiful flowers. 

There are large quantities of bog iron ore in the township. It is 
an interesting fact, that after being dug, the deposit is in time re- 
newed. In some places the period does not exceed twenty years. 
The renewal of the ore arises from the circumstance that the soil 
in which it is formed, is incessantly washed by springs containing 
much iron in their composition. The Wading river and its branches 
drain the central part of the township, and the Little Egg Harbor 
river forms its SW. boundary. These are never-failing streams, 



BURLINGTON COUNTY. 121 

and furnish more natural water-power than is to be found in any 
other township in this part of New Jersey. The township contains 
4 stores, 2 furnaces, 5 grist-m., 8 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $76,000 ; 
8 schools, 470 scholars. Pop. 1,630. 

At M'Cartyville, on Wading river, about 28 miles from Mount 
Holly, is one of the largest and best paper-mills in the state, owned 
by an incorporated company, and erected at a great expense. 
There are there twenty or thirty houses. Green Bank, on the 
Little Egg Harbor river, 3 miles below Batsto, contains 1 saw, 1 
grist-mill, a glass factory, and about 20 dwellings. Lower Bank, 6 
miles below Batsto, on the same stream, has a Methodist church 
and about 30 dwellings. Martha, Speedwell, and Union Works, 
are furnaces on Wading river, at present not in operation. Bridge- 
port, at the head of navigation on Wading river, has a few dwellings. 
Hampton, in the NW. corner of the township, contains a forge, 
saw-mill, and 10 dwellings. The well-known Batsto furnace is on 
Batsto river, near the forks of Little Egg Harbor river, on the SW. 
line of the township, 28 miles SE. of Mount Holly. The name is 
supposed to have been derived from an Indian word signifying 
Bathing, this having been a favorite resort of the natives for that 
purpose. It contains a large grist and saw mill, and the furnace of 
Jesse Richards, Esq., where are usually employed about 125 men j 
and it is estimated that 700 or 800 persons derive their subsistence 
from these works. Batsto was founded in 1766, by Charles Reed. 
In the American revolution it was owned by Col. John Cox ; at 
which time the furnace was employed in casting cannon, shot, and 
bomb-shells, for the American army. The workmen were organ- 
ized into a military corps ; but were excused, by act of legislature, 
from actual service, unless in case of an invasion of the county. 
Atsion is on Atsion river, a branch of the Mullicas or Little Egg 
Harbor. It lies at the angle of Burlington, Gloucester, and Atlan- 
tic counties, 18 miles SE. of Mount Holly, and contains 15 or 20 
dwellings, a Methodist church, and a furnace employing about 120 
workmen. 

Edgepelick is the name of a locality about 3 m. N. of Atsion, 
where was the last Indian settlement in the state. The remnant 
of the tribe, consisting of about 100 souls, emigrated to the West 
nearly half a century since. There is, however, a single family — 
but of mixed breed — residing in the vicinity, in a log hut. Brain- 
ard, the missionary, for a time resided among the Indians at this 
place. His dwelling stood about 8 rods S. of the saw-mill of God- 
frey Hancock, on rising ground, the site of which is still marked 
by a depression, showing the precise spot where the cellar was. 
Within a few rods is the spring from which the family obtained 
water. The natives had a saw-mill on the site of Nicholas S. 
Thompson's mill, a quarter of a mile NE. of Brainard's house. 
Their burying-ground was on the edge of the pond, about 40 rods 
NW. of the same dwelling. In the vicinity stood their church, 

16 



122 CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

built of logs, and destroyed about 35 years since. After the Indians 
left, it was used by the whites for public worship. 



WILLINGBORO. 

This township is about 5 m. long, 3 wide ; and is bounded NE. by 
Burlington, E. by Northampton, SW. by Chester, and NW. by the 
Delaware river. Its surface is level ; soil fertile, and, in the eastern 
part, productive in grain and grass, and in the western, in vege- 
tables. The railroad between New York and Philadelphia passes 
through the W. part of Willingboro. The township was early set- 
tled by Friends. It contains 4 stores ; cap. in manufac. $ 3,100 ; 
2 schools, 73 scholars. Pop. 900. 

Cooperstown is on the Camden and Burlington road, 3 m. from 
the latter place. It contains a Methodist and a Free church, 
and a few dwellings. Dunks Ferry, a noted crossing-place on the 
Delaware in the war of the revolution, contains a few dwellings 
and an Episcopal church. Rancocus, 4 m. W. of Mt. Holly, on 
the line of this and Northampton township, is a new and handsome 
village, grown up within a few years, and containing a Friends 
meeting and about 30 dwellings. 

On the site of the Franklin Park Academy, on the bank of the 
Rancocus, formerly stood the mansion of William Franklin, the last 
of the colonial governors of New Jersey. It was destroyed by fire 
a few years since. " Within sight of the academy was the first 
Rancocus meeting-house of Friends — now down. An ancient tree 
near there, of imported and unknown character, now shows the 
graveyard, close to the tumulus formed by the graves of the In- 
dians. There they used to be brought on wickers, on men's shoul- 
ders, and were interred in sitting postures, surrounded and defend- 
ed by upright wickers." 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

Cape May county is bounded N. by Atlantic co., E. and S. by the 
ocean, and W. by Delaware bay and Cumberland co. : length, 30 
miles; greatest breadth, 14 miles. This county is level, and its 
formation alluvial. Along on the seaside, several beaches, known 
as " Two-mile Beach," " Five-mile," " Learning's," " Ludlam's," and 
" Peck's," unitedly extend the whole length of the county. They 
are covered with grass, and afford excellent pasturage. West of 
this is a marsh, from 2 to 3 miles wide, broken by many small salt- 
water lakes, communicating by inlets with the ocean. There is a 
similar marsh, though not interspersed with lakes, on the western, 
and one on the northern boundary of the county. The soil of the 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 123 

soil of the county is composed generally of sand, loam, and gravel, 
which in many places is covered with oak, and in the northern part 
pine is found. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in agriculture ; 
wheat, rye, oats, and Indian corn being the principal crops. Large 
quantities of timber are annually exported to market. Nearly all 
the hay is obtained from the salt-marshes. 

This county derives its name from Cornelius Jacobse Mey, who, 
in 1621, was sent out by the Dutch West India Company, with a 
number of settlers ; and explored the coast, from Cape Cod to the 
Delaware, and gave his own name to its northern cape.* In 1729, 
the Dutch Company sent out three ships, with agents to purchase 
lands of the natives; one of which entered the Delaware, and 
bought, the succeeding year, of nine Indian chiefs, for Goodwin and 
Bloemart, 16 square miles, on the peninsula of Cape May. Noth- 
ing definite can be gathered of its first settlement, previous to 1691 ; 
yet it is not improbable it was settled as early as 1640. A large 
proportion of the original settlers came from Long Island, the whale- 
fishery then holding out strong inducements for them to visit its 
shores. Cape May was first made a county by a proprietary law, 
in 1692 ; by another, in 1694, it had its bounds better ascertained; 
and by the act of 1710 they were definitely fixed. 

Cape May co. is divided into 4 townships, viz : 

Dennis, Lower, Middle, Upper. 

Its population, in 1726, was 668; in 1738, was 1,004; in 1790, 
was 2,571, (of whom 141 were slaves;) in 1810, was 3,632; in 
1830, was 4,936, (slaves 3 ;) in 1840, was 5,324. 



DENNIS. 

This township was formed in 1826. It is 13 miles long, with an 
average width of about 6. It is bounded N. by Upper Township, 
E. by the ocean, S. by Middle Township, and W. by Maurice river, 
Cumberland co. Dennis creek runs through an extensive cedar 
swamp. The whole township, except that part cultivated, or 
meadow, is covered with oaks, pines, and cedars. There are in the 
township 7 stores, 2 grist-mills, 6 saw-mills ; 4 schools, 205 scholars. 
Pop. 1,350. 

Dennisville is a post- village, extending on both sides of the creek 
for a mile. It is 8 miles north of the courthouse, 8 south of Tucka- 
hoe, and 28 from Bridgeton. It contains 5 stores, about 70 dwell- 
ings, a neat academy — the upper story of which is used for a ly- 
ceum, and for religious meetings. Ship-building and the lumber- 
trade are carried on here. The Methodist church, at this place, 

* Mey must have possessed a due share of egotism, as he named the bay of New York 
" Port Mey ;" the Delaware, " New Port Mey ;" its north cape, " Cape Mey ;" and its 
south cape, " Cape Cornelius." Only one of his designations has been handed down to 
posterity, and that has undergone some change in its orthography ; the e being changed 
to a. 



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126 CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

1691. principally from Long Island, were Christopher Learning 
and his son Thomas. Cesar Hoskins, Samuel Matthews. Jonathan 
Osborne, Nathaniel Short, Cornelius Skellinks, (now Schellinger,) 
Henry Stites. Thomas Hand and his sons John and George, John 
and Caleb Carman, John Shaw, Thomas Miller, "William Siillwell, 
Humphrey Hewes. "William Mason, and John Richardson. Very 
soon, quite a business was done here ; as a town called Cope May 
Town sprang up at Bay shore, for the accommodation of whalers, 
which was probably the first town built in the county. From the 
Journal of Aaron Learning, Esq., who was born in 1715, we extract 
the following : " In 1691, Cape May was a new country, and, begin- 
ning to settle very fast, seemed to hold out good advantages to the 
adventurer. I never saw any East India tea till 1735. It was at 
the Presbyterian parson's, the followers of "Whitefield, that brought 
it into use at Cape May about 1744-5-6 ; and now it impoverish- 
ed the country Christopher Learning's remains were 

interred at the place called Cape May Town, which was situated 
above New England Town creek, and contained about 13 houses ; 
but on the failure of the whale-fishery in Delaware bay, it dwin- 
dled into common farms, and the graveyard is on the plantation 
now owned by Ebenezer Newton. At the first settlement of this 
county, the chief whaling was in Delaware bay ; and that occa- 
sioned the town to be built there. But there has not been one 
home in that town since my remembrance. In 1734 I saw the 
graves. Samuel Eldredge showed them to me. They were then 
about 50 rods from the bay, and the sand was blown up to them. 
The town was between them and the water. There were then 
some signs of the ruins of the houses." 

Below is a copy of the inventory of John Story, who died in this 
township in 1687. It is an interesting relic, showing the prices of 
various articles at that time. The original spelling is preserved : 

" A chest, and small things, 

A gon, .... 

2 bras cities an on frying-pan, 

2 axes an on shobel, 

On sadell, .... 

On blanket, 

On hous an improvments, 

On stier, 4 yer ould, 

2 stiers goin to yer ould, 

On bull, 

On heifer whit calfe, 



£ 


s. d 





16 





10 





10 





5 6 





10 





2 6 








5 





4 





2 


10 


3 


10 



-. , . 5 JOHN BRIGGS, 

erased by us, j AL EXAXDER HUMPHRIES." 



The village of Cape Island is a favorite watering-place in the 
southern part of this township, 13 m. S. of the courthouse. It be- 
gan to grow into notice as a watering-place in 1812, at which time 
there were but a few houses there. It now contains 2 large hotels, 
3 stories high and 150 feet long, — and a third lately erected, 4 sto- 
ries high and 100 feet in length ; besides numerous other houses 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 



127 




Cape May Island. 

for the entertainment of visitors. The whole number of dwellings 
is about 50. In the summer months the island is thronged with 
visitors, principally from Philadelphia, with which there is then a 
daily steamboat communication. It is estimated that 3,000 stran- 
gers annually visit the place. The village is separated by a small 
creek from the mainland ; but its area is fast wearing away by the 
encroachments of the sea. Watson, the antiquarian, in a MS. 
journal of atrip to Cape Island in 1835, on this point says : " Since 
my former visit to Cape Island in 1822, the house in which I then 
stopped, (Capt. Aaron Bennett's.) then nearest the surf, has been 

actually reached by the invading waters ! The distance 

from Bennett's house to the sea bank in 1822, was 165 feet ; and 
in 1804, as it was then measured and cut upon the house by Com- 
modore Decatur, it was 334 feet. It had been as much as 300 ft. 
further off, as remembered by some old men who told me so in 
1822." A large portion of the inhabitants of the village are Dela- 
ware pilots, a hardy and industrious race. About 2 m. W. of the 
boarding-houses is the Cape May lighthouse. 

In the late war, when the British fleet were blockading Dela- 
ware bay, a boat was sent ashore from the 74-gun-ship Poictiers, 
with a flag of truce to Cape Island, with the request to Capt. 
Hughes, commander of a small body of men stationed there, to al- 
low them to obtain a supply of water. On his refusal, the boat 
returned ; and shortly after, another was sent ashore, with the 
threat that unless allowed peaceably to get water, they would 
bombard the place. Capt. Hughes, with the advice of his officers, 
discreetly acceded to their demand. He was. however, arrested on a 
cnarge of treason, for giving supplies to the enemy, and narrowly 
escaped severe punishment. 

Cold Spring, 10 m. S. of the courthouse, is a thickly-settled agri- 
cultural neighborhood, containing about 40 houses within the circle 
of a mile. It derives its name from an excellent spring of cold 
water flowing up from the salt marsh, which is much frequented by 



128 CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

sojourners at Cape Island. It contains an academy, a Methodist 
church, (the second built in the county,) erected about 30 years 
since, and a Presbyterian church, erected in 1823 on the site of 
an old one. The history of this church is thus given by Johnson, 
in his history of Salem : 

" It is to be regretted that the records relating to the Presbyterian church in the county 
of Cape May were lost, and we have to begin their date from the year 1754, when the 
Rev. Daniel Lawrance officiated there, and lived on the parsonage which had been pur- 
chased of the Rev. John Bradnor, (in 1721.) who was a member of the Presbytery of 
Philadelphia, and resided there, preaching for the people in that part of the county. The 
Rev. Samuel Finley, (who some years after became the president of Princeton college,) 
resided there, and officiated for the Cape May people. He, no doubt, was made instru- 
mental in producing that extraordinary revival which was had among the Presbyterian 
and Baptist churches, from the year 1740 to about 174'J. 

The parsonage was purchased by the following named constituents : 
Humphrey Hughes, Barnabas Crowell, Nathaniel Rex, 

George Hand, Jehu Richardson, Yelverson Crowell, 

John Parsons, George Crawford, Josiah Crowell, 

Col. Jacob Spicer, Benjamin Stites, William Mulford, 

Shamgar Hand, Jeremiah Hand, William Matthews, 

Joshua Gulicksen, Samuel Eldridge, Samuel Bancroft, 

Samuel Johnston, Recompence Jonathan Furman, Eleazer Nocault, 

Constant Hughes, Ezekiel Eldridge, Joshua Crofferd, 

Cornelius Schellenger, Eleazer Newton, Samuel Foster, 

Jehu Hand, Joseph Wilden, John Matthews. 

Nathaniel Hand, Nathaniel Norton, 

The present supporters of the Presbyterian church are principally the descendants of 

the above-named persons The Rev. James Watt succeeded Mr. Lawrance. 

Abijah Davis was succeeded by David Edwards, who had removed from Salem county, 
and became the pastor in 1804 — continued until his death in 1813. Mr. Ogden suc- 
ceeded Edwards, and resigned his charge in 1825, and was succeeded by Rev. Alvin H. 
Parker, who was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Moses Williamson. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in an old 
graveyard, now overgrown with timber, at Cold Spring. They 
commemorate a father and a son who occupied prominent stations 
in society in their day : — 

In memory of Col. Jacob Spicer, who died April 17th, 1741, aged 73 years — 

Death, thou hast conquered me, 
I, by thy darts am slain, 
• But Christ shall conquer thee, 
And I shall rise again. 

Jacob Spicer, Esq., departed this life, Sept. 17th, 1765, in the 49th year of his age — 

If aught that's good or great could save, 
Spicer had never seen the grave. 

His wife, who lies by his side, has upon her monument — 

Judith Spicer departed this life, Sept. 7th, 1747, in the 33d year of her age. 

Virtue and piety give way to death, 

Or else the entombed had ne'er resigned her breath. 

Fishing Creek, on the bay shore, 6 miles SW. of the courthouse, 
is an agricultural vicinage similar to Cold Spring. A survey has 
been made for a breakwater, at Crow's shoal in this township, near 
the mouth of Delaware bay. When the wind is NE., a good har- 
bor is afforded at this place ; and sometimes as many as 100 ves- 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 



129 



sels are anchored off here. On a sudden change to the NW. 
vessels are frequently driven ashore. The breakwater will be an 
effectual protection against winds from this direction. 



MIDDLE. 

Middle Township was incorporated in 1798. It is 12 miles long 
and 10 broad ; and is bounded N. by Dennis, E. by the ocean, S. 
by Lower Township, and W. by Delaware bay. About half the 
township is salt marsh or sea-beach; the remaining portion is 
mostly sandy loam. The township contains 12 stores, 2 grist-m., 
2 saw-m. ; 5 schools, 328 scholars. Pop. 1,624. Goshen, 5 miles 
NW. of the courthouse, has a handsome Methodist church and 
about 20 dwellings. The village of Cape May Courthouse is in 
the central part of the township, 110 miles from Trenton, and 36 
SE. of Bridgeton, and contains a courthouse, a jail, and the county 
offices, (shown in the accompanying view,) a Methodist and a Bap- 




View in the Village of Cape May Courthouse. 

tist church, and 30 or 40 dwellings in the vicinity. The Methodist 
church at this place is of recent origin, but the Baptist is very 
ancient. 

"The Baptist church at Cape May took its origin from a vessel which put in there 
from England, in the year 1675: Two persons, to wit, George Taylor and Philip Hill, 
though not ministers, officiated as such in private families, until the Rev. Elias Keach 
ordained one Ashton to be a deacon. After him, the Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins took the 
oversight, and a church was constituted by Rev. Timothy Brooks, of Cohansey, in 
1712. The elders were Dickison Sheppard and Jeremiah Bacon. The names of the 
male constituents were, Rev.' Nathaniel Jenkins, Arthur Cressee, Seth Brooks, Abraham 
Smith, William Seagreaves, Jonathan Swain, John Stillwell, Henry Stites, Benjamin 
Hand, Richard Bowns, Ebenezer Swain, William Smith, John Taylor, Abraham Hand, 
Christopher Church, Charles Robinson, and their wives. In 1714, the settlement had 
well-nigh been depopulated by a grievous sickness, which swept off a vast number of 
their people. Jenkins had by his wife, whose name was Esther Jones, nine children, viz : 
Hannah, Phebe, Nathaniel, (his successor,) Tabitha, David, Jonathan, Esther, Abinadab, 
and Jonadab ; these married into the families of the Shaws, Serleys, Downeys, Harrises, 
Pooles, Lakes, and Taylors. Nathaniel Jenkins succeeded his father in the ministry, 
and died in 1769, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Heaton, and he by the Rev. John 
Sutton, and he by Rev. Peter Peterson Vanhorn, and he by Rev. David Smith, and he 

17 



130 CAFE MAY coumnr. 

bv Rev. Arris Seaarreave, who took the oversight of the charch in 1755. and resigned in 
1788 — *■ :~.t'-i. In 17^9. John StanclitF came and remained until 

tie in 180S . a came Jonathan Germain, wno died in - - en Jen- 

kins David, and continued until 1823; then Mr. Robinson, till 1>31 : Samuel Smith, 

184 Tne preser.: .:.k Baptist church wa; 
1719. 

The following, relating to land titles. &c. in this count} - . \vas 
communicated by Dr. Maurice Beesley. of Dennisville, to whose 
industrious researches the compilers are indebted for most of the 
materials introduced respecting the county. 

In 1688, the 95,000 acre tract was granted to Dr. Daniel Coxe, 
of London, one of the West Jersey proprietors. The line com- 
mences at the hammocks below Goshen creek, on the bay shore, 
and in its passage across the county" comes between Joseph Falken- 
burge's and John MPCrea's, and thence on a direct line 1VE. by X. 
over the head of Dennis creek to Tuckahoe river, including in the 
all the lands SE. of this line. In 1691, Dr. Coxe conveyed 
this tract and all his other lands in the state, to the West Jersey 
Society, from whom the land titles of the county have mostly ema- 
nated. This line, called the '"Society's line." was first run in 1691. 

Between 1740 and 1750. the cedar swamps of the count}-, then 
very extensive, were mostly located ; previously they were not 
considered of sufficient value to survey. In 1756. Jacob Spicer 
the second, bought the interest of the West Jersey Society in all 
the lands of the county, constituting what is called the "vacant 
" now owned by Jacob Learning. John Moore White. Es [., 
and heirs of Spicer Learning. Aaron Learning and Jacob Spicer 
"were competitors in this purchase of the right of the society : but 
the latter overreached the former. Although these personages, 
perhaps two of the most popular men of that time, were opposed 
to each other at home in consequence of their land speculations, 
yet when at Trenton, as representatives of their count} - , where 
they served for about 30 years, they united their energies, and were 
faithful and efficient public servants. The fact that the legislature 
intrusted them to make a collection of state papers, termed u Learn- 
ing m N i ectums," which must have been an arduous 
y. is proof of the high estimation in which they stood. 

The first-named of these gentlemen was buried in the old Learn- 
ing burying- ground, two miles above the courthouse. The follow- 
ing is the inscription on his monument : — 

In memory •::" Aaron LeamL^.r- Esq., who represented this county in assen. 
years. Died Aug. _-•.. 1780, age of 65 years, 1 mo., 11 

Beneath this stone, here lies a name 

Tnat once had titles, honor, wealth, and fame : 

How loved, how honored, now avails the* :. 

To whom related, or by whom be . 

Ah-: ' alone remains of thee, 

"T.i - :aou art, and all the proud shall be. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE COUNTY RECORDS 
The first meetir.^ maty was held at the house of Benjamin 

Godfrey, in the year 1 C 



CAPE MAY COUXTY. 131 

In the second suit on record, " Georgre Taylor accuseth John Jarvis for helping the In. 
dians to rum. William Johnson deposeth, and saith, that he came into the house of the 
said Jarvis, and he found Indians drinking rum, and one of the said Indians gave of the 
said rum to the said Johnson, and he drank of it with him ; the said Jarvis refusing to 
clear himself, was convicted." 

1693. " The grand jury upon complaint made by Elizabeth Crafford, and we have 
taken it into consideration, and we find that no fariner ought to rate ale or other strong 
drink to ye inhabitants of Cape May. except they have a lysence for so doing. So the 
court orders that no person shall self liquor without a license, and that .£40 be raised by 
tax to defray expenses, with a proviso that produce should be taken at ' money price in 
payment.' " 

1698. "We the grand jury order that if any person will hang a gate anywhere be- 
tween Joshua Carmans and old Elizabeth Carmans, and clear the old road to the gate, 
and from the gate to the mill, they may do it, and that shall be the road ; and if that 
wont do, let them hang a gate in the old road." Same court presents John Coston for 
being drunk, and Henry Stites for breach of Sabbath in driving cattle and slaughtering 
a steer. Joseph Ludlam admonished in court, " that for time to come he be careful in 
taking an oath, and to mind to what it doth relate 

The following is a specimen of the manner of tying the matri- 
monial knot in olden time : — 

"These mav certifv that on the loth day of February, 1693, then and there came be- 
fore me, Henrv Stites and Hannah Garlick, and did each take the other to be man and 
wife, accordinj to the law of this province, being lawfully published according to order, 
as witness their hands the day and year abovesaid. 

Henrv Stites, 
Samuel Crowell, Justice. Hannah Garlick. 

<: Witnesses — John Carman, Jonathan Pine, John Shaw, Jonathan Osborne, Caleb 
Carman, Shamgar Hand, Ruth Dayton, William Harwood, Jacob Spicer, Ezekiel El- 
dredge, Timothy Brandith." 

1705. " The grand jury agree to have a prison built 13 feet by 9. and 7 
feet high in the first story, upon the Queen's highway, eastwardly of Gravel- 
ly run." Stocks and whipping-posts were ordered at the same time. 

A license was granted this year, from Gov. Cornbury to Capt. Jacob 
Spicer, of the sloop Adventure, owned by John and Richard Townsend ; 
burden 16 tons. She traded from Cape May to Philadelphia and Burling- 
ton, and no doubt was considered a vessel of some magnitude in those days. 

1706. This year Shamgar Hand and Wm. Golden, commissioners for the 
purpose, laid out the road from Egg Harbor to Cold Spring, and thence to 
Town Bank, as follows, viz : " Beginning at a bush near the water's edge on 
Great Egg Harbor river, and from said bush along Wm. Golden's fence to 
the gate-post ; from thence along the fence to the corner thereof; thence by 
a line of marked trees to the first run ; thence to the head of John Coston's 
branch ; thence to the head of dry swamp ; thence to the head of Joseph 
Ludlam's branch; thence around the head of John Townsend's branch, to 
the going over the branch between Abraham Hand's and Thomas Leon- 
ard's ; thence to the bridge over -Leonard's branch : thence to the bridge over 
the branch towards the head of Wm. Johnson's land, so on to the bridge over 
the fork branch ; thence to the bridge over John Cressee's creek ; thence to 
the bridge over crooked creek, so by a line of marked trees to the bridge 
over Gravelly run ; thence to the bridge over Cressee's creek ; thence to the 
old going over at John Shaws: thence to the old going over at Wm. Shaw's 
branch ; thence to the head of John Taylor's branch ; thence to the tvrn- 
ing-out of Cold Spring path, so on by a line of marked trees, partly along 
the old road down to the bay side, between George Crawford's and the 
hollow." 



132 CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

Fifteen shillings a head bid by the court for wolves and panthers, and half 
price for young ones. 

1707. " John Townsend and Shamgar Hand, commissioners, laid out the 
road from the head of John Townsend's creek to the cedar swamp ; so through 
the same to a place called Ludley's bridge, and towards Maurice river as 
far as the county goeth." Thus, after 14 years hard talking, for it appears 
nothing else had been done until now, the road through the cedar swamp, 
lying between the head-waters of Cedar Swamp creek and Dennis creek, 
(then called Cedar creek, Sluice creek being named Dennis,) was laid out, 
and according to records of the first Thomas Learning, completed this year. 
It is a question by what route the inhabitants had communication with the 
other parts of the colony, as they appear to have been completely isolated 
until this road was made. 

1716. The old county road from Long bridge to the head of Tuckahoe, 
and from thence to Gloucester Point, was mada this year. 

1740. This year Jacob Ludlam, jr., took license, and opened a house of 
entertainment on the sea-shore. In 1750, Nicholas Stillwell at Egg Har- 
bor. Both of these were in Upper Township. In 1752, Jacob Spicer at 
Cold Spring. In 1761, Aaron Learning on the sea-shore, two miles above the 
courthouse. In 1763, Christopher Learning where Humphrey Learning 
and Nathaniel Foster now live. In 1764, Daniel Hand at the courthouse. 
In 1768, Memucan Hughes and James Whillden at and near Cape Island. 
In 1790 a law was passed to build a bridge over the N. and S branches of 
Dennis creek, and to lay out a public road from Thomas Learning's ship- 
yard, on the S. branch, to the road leading from the Long bridge to John- 
son's mill. Daniel Townsend, Christopher Smith, Henry Ludlam, and 
Jacoks Swain, were the surveyors. 



UPPER. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 10 miles long, 
with, an average width, of 7 ; and is bounded N. by Great Egg 
Harbor bay and Tuckahoe river, separating it from Atlantic co., E. 
by the ocean, S. by Dennis, and W. by Maurice river, Cumberland 
co. Pop. 1,217. Its surface is level ; soil sand and loam, and well 
timbered with cedar, oak, and pine. It contains 4 stores, 1 grist- 
m., 4 saw-m. ; 5 schools, 219 scholars. 

The village of Tuckahoe is situated on both sides of Tuckahoe 
river, on the county line, 18 miles from the courthouse, 11 from the 
sea, 28 from Bridgeton, and 1 3 from May's Landing. It contains 3 
taverns, several stores, about 60 dwellings, and a Methodist church. 
There are besides, in the township, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist 
church, and a Friends meeting-house. Wood, lumber, and ship- 
building, constitute the business of the village. As early as 1692 a 
ferry was established at Beesley's Point, over Great Egg Harbor 
river ; a proof there must have been inhabitants upon both sides of 
the river at that early period. The rates were Is. for passengers, 
2d. a bushel for grain, 4d. each for sheep or hogs, and Is. for cattle 
per head. The toll-bridge over Cedar Swamp creek was not built 
until 1702. Joseph Corson, James Willets, Isaac Banner, and John 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 



133 



Mackey, were petitioners for it. Wagons were charged Go?., pas- 
sengers Id. John Townsend, ancestor of all in the county of that 
name, and of many in Philadelphia and elsewhere, emigrated with 
three brothers to Long Island previous to 1G80. They were mem- 
bers of the Society of Friends. One settled in New England, one 
in New York, John and the other came to Leeds Point, near Little 
Egg Harbor. About or previous to 1690, John (the other brother 
having gone to Pennsylvania) travelled to Somers' Point, crossed 
the Egg Harbor river, and followed the seaboard down about ten 
miles, until he came to a stream of water that he thought would 
do for a mill. He returned to Egg Harbor, bought a yoke of oxen, 
got them across the river, took the yoke on his back, as there was 
not room for the timber to drive his oxen abreast, and drove them 
before him down an Indian path to the place of his future residence. 
His wife's name was Phebe. They cleared land, built a cabin and 
a mill on the site of Thomas Vangilders. He died in 1722, and left 
three sons, Richard, Robert, and Sylvanus. John and Peter Corson 
were the first of the name that came to the county, and were here 
as early as 1692. The second generation was Peter, jr., John, jr., 
Christian, and Jacob. This family became numerous. There were 
52 families, in 1840, of that name in this township. 

All the Townsends in the county descended from the John Townsend above mentioned ; 



All the Corsons 


from 


Peter and John Corson 


" Learnings 
" Ludlams 
" Schellingers 


cc 

!< 
(( 


Christopher Learning 
Joseph Ludlam 
Cornelius Skellinks 


" Hughes 
" Whilldens 


(( 
it 


Humphrey Hughes 
Joseph Whillden 


" Hewitts 


a 


Randal Hewitt 


" Stites 


u 


Henry Stites 


" Cresses 


<« 


Arthur Cresse 


" Willets 


«< 


John Willets 


" Goffs 


M 


John Goff 


" Youngs 
" Eldredges 
" Godfreys 
" Matthews 


u 
« 
<< 


Henry Young 
Ezekiel Eldredge 
Benjamin Godfrey r 
Samuel Matthews. 



Henry Young was a man of some note in the county about a cen- 
tury ago. He was impressed in England, his native country, when 
very young, on board of a man-of-war, from which he made his es- 
cape to a vessel bound to Philadelphia. Here, to elude pursuit, he 
was secreted in a hogshead, in the hold of the vessel ; and as soon 
as they put to sea he was relieved ; but not until nearly exhausted 
for want of fresh air. He was justice of the peace from 1722 till 
his death in 1767, and member of the legislature for 8 sessions. 

There was an Indian killed on Foxborough Hill, at Beesley's 
Point, in 1736, by old Joseph Golden, who got into a quarrel and 
probably unintentionally killed his opponent. It is said the Indians 
were so enraged against Golden, that he was for a long time 
obliged to secrete himself to avoid their vengeance. A suit was 
instituted against him in this county, which was removed to Bur- 
lington, where he was tried and acquitted ; but its great cost 



134 CAPE MAY COUNTY. 

obliged him to dispose of that part of his place NW. of the main 
road to the Point, to Nicholas Stillwell. 

In the American revolution the inhabitants of Cape May, to pro*- 
tect themselves from the incursions of the British and refugees, 
armed and manned a number of boats and privateers. They 
manifested great bravery and address, and were successful in 
taking prizes. They had the most to fear from the refugees — as 
their names were synonymous with burglary, arson, treachery, and 
murder. Only two, as far as is known, were from this county. 
They were finally taken prisoners. The following, chiefly extracts 
from the New Jersey State Gazette, relate to incidents of the war, 
principally off this coast : 

" June 23d, 1779. An open boat, called "The Skunk," mounting 2 guns, and 12 
men belonging to Egg Harbor, sent in there, on Wednesday last, a vessel with a valua- 
ble cargo — which makes her nineteenth prize since she was fitted out." 

Upon one occasion this boat had quite an adventure, when commanded byCapt. Snell 
and John Goldin. They thought they had discovered a fine prize, off Egg Harbor, in a 
large ship wearing the appearance of a Merchantman. The boat approached cautiously, 
and, after getting quite near, the little Skunk was put in a retreating position, stern to the 
enemy, and then gave him a gun. A momentary pause ensued. All at once, the mer- 
chantman was transformed into a British 74, and in another moment she gave the Skunk 
such a broadside that, as Goldin expressed it, " the water flew around them like ten thou- 
sand whale-spouts." She was cut some in her sails and rigging, but by hard rowing 
made good her escape, — with Goldin to give the word, " Lay low, boys .' lay low for your 
lives .'" 

"June 2d, 1779. The brigantine Delight, Capt. Dawson, on the 20th ultimo, from 
Tortula to New York, mounting 12 guns, with 29 hands, came ashore on Peck's beach, 
in a fog, at Cape May. Her cargo consisted of 80 hhds. of rum, some sugar, &c. 
Soon after she came ashore, our militia took possession of both vessel and cargo, and 
sent off the crew under guard to Philadelphia." 

A few years since, the tide being very low, one of the cannon thrown overboard in the 
attempt of the British to get her off, was found by Mr. Uriah Smith, and placed at the 
corner of his yard for a fender. There were 3 balls in it. 

" Oct. 6, 1779. On Friday last, Capt. Taylor, of Cape May, sent into Little Egg 
Harbor a transport from New York to Halifax, with a quantity of drygoods, and 214 
Hessians, including a colonel, who are properly taken care of." 

"Aug. 7, 1782. John Badcock took the Hawk, when commanding the Rainbow: 
her cargo consisted of spirits, tar, flour, coal, and iron, — which was sold at James Wil- 
let's, (who kept tavern where Capt. John S. Chattin now does,) for the benefit of those 
concerned." 

" Capt. Hand, of the Enterprise, and Capt. Willets, of another boat, on the 5th of May, 
1782, chased ashore, near Egg Harbor, the refugee boat Old Ranger, mounting 7 swiv- 
els and 1 three-pounder, commanded by one Fryan, with 25 men, bound to the capes of 
the Delaware, and up the same as far as Christiana, with orders to take prisoners whom 
they pleased. They afterward fell in with a schooner laden with corn, and another 
with lumber, which they took." 

" Jan. 3, 1782. William Treen and Joseph Edwards, commanders of the whale-boat 
Unity, captured the Betsey, which lately sailed from Jones's creek, Delaware, loaded 
with wheat, Indian corn, and flour, — which was taken in the Delaware by a British 
cruiser, and retaken by said Treen and Edwards." 

" Feb. 7, 1781. The brig Fame, Capt. William Treen, of Egg Harbor, about 10 
days ago took the privateer schooner Cock, Capt. Brooks, bound from New York to 
Chesapeake bay, and sent her into a port in New Jersey." " On the night of the 22d of 
the same month, the brig Fame, while at the anchoring-point near Egg Harbor inlet, in 
a heavy gale from the N W. with some snow squalls, on the flood tide, was tripped and 
upset — by which sad mishap some 20 lives were lost." 

Capt. Treen, Wm. Lacke, and three others, were on shore. 
Thomas Adams, Eleazer Crawford, Jacob Corson, and Steelman, 



CAPE MAY COUNTY. 135 

succeeded in landing on the point of the beach. The cold was in- 
tense. Steelman, who was most active in cheering his companions 
and freeing the boat, perished when near land. Four only of the 
crew left on board were rescued in the morning, the rest having 
perished by the cold ; these kept alive only by constant and unre- 
mitting exertion — that being the only method of shaking off. the 
sleep of death. 

Capt. Wra. Treen (above mentioned) was bold and fearless, and 
very successful in taking prizes. He was, however, run down on 
one occasion by two frigates, for not immediately answering their 
summons to surrender. Both frigates passed quite over his vessel. 
Treen and a boy, only, caught to the rigging of one of the frigates, 
and were saved. Others made the attempt, but had their fingers 
and arms cut off by cutlasses. Treen implored for the lives of his 
crew — among whom "was a brother of Jesse Somers, now (1842) 
living at Somers Point. This being refused, he boldly upbraided 
them for their cruelty. They could not but admire his heroic bear- 
ing, and, while with them, he was well treated ; but on their arri- 
val in New York he was placed in that den of horrors, the New 
Jersey prison-ship, and was one of the few that escaped with life. 
In 180G he went to the west. Nathaniel Holmes, who lived at the 
courthouse, (a highly respectable man, who died about 9 years 
since,) was, at one time, also confined on board this prison-ship. 

In the latter part of December, 1815, the brig Perseverance, 
Capt. Snow, bound from Havre to New York, with ten passengers, 
and a crew of seven men, was wrecked on Peck's beach, opposite 
the residence of Thomas Beesley, in this township.* 

" On Friday, the day before she was cast away, a ship from New York was spoken, 
which deceived them, by stating they were 200 miles east of Sandy Hook. It was with 
great gratification that the passengers received this joyous news ; and, elated with the 
hope of soon resting on ' terra firma,' gave themselves up to hilarity and merriment — 
whilst the captain, under the same impulse, spread all sail to a heavy northeaster, with 
high expectations of a safe arrival on the morrow. Delusive hope ! To-morrow too many 
of them were destined never to see. 

" Thus she continued on her course until three o'clock, Saturday morning ; when the 
mate, whose watch it was on deck, was heard to give the dreadful cry, ' Breakers ahead ." 
The brig, by the instant efforts of her steersman, obeyed her helm ; but as she came 
around, ahead off shore, her stern striking knocked off her false keel, deadened her head- 
way, and she backed on the beach stern foremost. In less than fifteen minutes, the sea 
made a clean breach over her. The scene, in the mean time, ' beggars description :' the 
passengers rushed out of the cabin, some of them in their night-clothes ; six of whom, 
and two of the crew, got in the long-boat. One of these was a young French lady, of 

* The gentleman from whom the account of this shipwreck is derived says : " The Per- 
severance had a verv valuable cargo on board, of rich goods, china, glass, silks, &c, 
which were strewn for miles along the beach. The people of Cape May were charged, 
upon this as upon some other occasions, of having converted some small portion of the 
goods, thus washed upon our shores, to their own use. I would ask, is there a spot up- 
on the Atlantic coast, from Maine to Florida, where there would not be as much danger 
of depredation as at Cape May ? I will go further : what would be the fate of a ship of 
merchandise, scattered in the streets of our principal cities, without a guard, for twenty- 
four hours ? I do not intend to defend the person that will take that which does not 
belong to him : far from it ; but I do contend that the innocent should not suffer for 
the guilty, and that there is as much honesty and integrity among the people of Cape? 
May as in any other community, on the seaboard or elsewhere." 



136 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 

great beauty. The remainder of the crew and passengers succeeded in reaching tho 
round-top, excepting a Mr. Cologne, whose great weight and corpulency of person com 
pelled him to remain in the shrouds. Soon the sea carried the long-boat and its passen- 
gers clear of the wreck, when it was too late discovered she was firmly attached to it by 
a hawser, which it was impossible to separate. Had it not been for this unfortunate cir- 
cumstance, they might possibly have reached the shore. Their cries were heart-rending, 
but were soon silenced in the sleep of death : the boat swamped, and they were all con- 
signed to one common grave. The body of the lady floated on shore. 

" The sea ran so high that it wet those in the round-top ; and although many efforts 
were made, on Saturday, to rescue them, it was found impossible, as the boats would up- 
set by ' turning head over stern,' subjecting those in them to great danger. Capt. Snow 
lost his life, in attempting to swim ashore. On Sunday the sea fell a little, and those on 
the wreck were made to understand they would have to build a raft of the spars, and 
get on it, or they could not be saved. The mate had fortunately secured a hatchet, with 
which one was constructed ; by which the survivors, (except a negro who was washed 
overboard, and reached the shore in safety, whilst making the raft,) were rescued by 
the boats. There were but four saved, out of the seventeen souls on board, viz : one 
passenger, who was badly frozen, the mate, and two of the crew, including the negro. 
Three perished in the round-top, and were thrown over. 

" Mr. Cologne, who was in the rigging, and unable to descend from the shrouds, let 
go and fell into the water, and was caught, as he came up, by his hair, and thus towed 
ashore. He lived only three days after, although every possible attention was paid him. 
He and his niece, the young French lady, were buried side by side, in the Golden bury- 
ing-ground, at Bcesley's Point. An eye-witness, Dr. Maurice Beesley, from whom the 
above account is derived, says : ' I saw this young and beautiful female after she had 
been transferred from the beach to the main. Her features were perfectly natural ; her 
cheeks bore the crimson tinge of life ; and it was scarcely possible to realize that, in- 
stead of a concentration of all the graces of the female form, animated by the fervor of 
life, I was gazing upon a cold and lifeless corpse.' " 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 

Cumberland county is bounded SSW. by Delaware bay, NW. by 
Salem co., NE. by Gloucester and Atlantic co., and SE. by Cape 
May co. It is about 30 m. long, E. and W., and its extreme breadth, 
N. and S., is 28 miles. It was included in Fen wick's tenth, and was 
part of his colony. It formed a portion of Salem county until 1 747, 
when it was erected into a separate county, and named by Gov. 
Belcher in honor of the Duke of Cumberland. The county was, 
at its formation, divided into six townships, viz., Greenwich, Hope- 
well, Stow Creek, Fairfield, Deerfield, and Maurice River, — to 
which Millville and Downe have since been added. Along on its 
SW. boundary, on the Delaware bay, is a tract of marshy land, 
varying from one to six miles in breadth. This marsh extends up 
the principal streams, Maurice river and Cohansey creek, for seve- 
ral miles. The surface of the county is level — its soil of alluvial 
formation, and generally a sandy loam, with some clay. A large 
portion of the NE. part is covered with a pine forest. Cumber- 
land county is divided into eight townships, viz : 

Deerfield, Fairfield, Hopewell, Millville, 

Downe, Greenwich, Maurice River, Stow Creek. 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 



137 



In 1810, the population was 12,670 ; in 1820, it was 12,688 ; in 
1830, it was 14,093 ; in 1840, it was 14,363. 



DEERFIELD. 

This township is bounded NE. by Pittsgrove, Salem co., NW. 
by U. Alloways creek, Salem co., S. by Fairfield, and W. by 
Hopewell, from which it is separated by Cohansey creek. Its ex- 
treme length N. and S. is 11, with an average breadth of 6 miles. 
It contains 1 flouring-m., 2 grist-m., 2 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$97,975 ; 3 acad. 396 students,— 1 1 schools, 836 scholars. Pop. 
2,621. The villages are Bridgeton, Deerfield, and Centreville. 
Deerfield is 7 m. N. of Bridgeton, and contains a large and flour- 
ing Presbyterian church, and 30 or 40 dwellings. Centreville is 
on the line of Gloucester co., and contains a Methodist church and 
about 25 dwellings. Carllsburg is a hamlet in the central part of 
the township. 




Southern View in Bridgeton. 

Bridgeton, the county seat, is pleasantly situated on both sides of 
the Cohansey creek, and therefore in the townships of Deerfield 
and Hopewell. It is 60 m. from Trenton, 17 from Salem, and 8 
from Delaware bay. There are in the village 4 churches, (viz. 2 
Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist,) a newspaper printing- 
office, the Cumberland Bank, a public library, 2 mutual aid asso- 
ciations, 2 fire engines, 2 academies, 1 woollen factory, 2 grist-m., 
an extensive rolling-m., foundry, and nail factory, 1 saw and 1 pa- 
per-m., several mechanic shops, 10 stores, and a population of about 
2,500. A large business is done here, and about 30 coasting-ves- 
sels sail from this port, which is at the head of navigation on the 
Cohansey river. The above view was taken on the eastern bank 
of the river, about 40 rods below the bridge which connects the two 
portions of the village. On the left are seen the extensive iron- 
works of the Messrs. Reeves & Whitaker, which at times employ 
over 100 hands. On the right is seen a small portion of the village 
on the eastern side of the river. 

18 



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CUM -D COUNTY. 139 

About the year 1740, the Rev. Samuel Blair, then th erf Tennant, then, after 

him. Rev. Samuel Finley. and a few others not recollected, dispensed the word of life to 
this people ; and their ministrations were abundantly blessed, and there was a glorious 
ingathering of many precious souk, through their instrumentality of preaching. The 
. -.drew Hunter, hating labored here as a supply, accepted a call from the united 
congregations of Greenwich and Deerfield ; and he was now constituted their first pastor 
4th Sept. 17-io. In the year 1760, the pastoral connection with Mr. Hunter was 
s. >=i. _-. . - ■_ ? :-:-..:..::...-_-. ■ .-- ; ;■.>:.::'.::'.:•■:;.; s "': :;. ".-.- ;.:-.?: " ""■ " 

until the Rev S hams came, in 1764, and resided with them for about the space 

of two years ; when, on the 9th J« b, 1767, 1 I Enoch Green was installed pastor 
of the Deerfield congregation, and so continued tmt- -hen he died. In 

the following year, 1777, the Rev. John Brainard brother .e celebrated mis- 

sionary' assumed the pastoral charge ; and died on lfrth March, 1781, greatly lamented 
ongregation. Rev. Joseph Montgomery, and others, officiated as supplies until 
' 33, when Rev. Simon Hyde was ordained the pastor, and by a sudden ill- 
17S3. The congregation were now dependent upon supplies until 
.".."- -. illed their pastor. He 

] oent, and for some time exceedingly popular ; but his conduct becoming 
loose, and unbecoming the character of a minister, he was deposed by the pres 
Philadelphia. The church was again assisted by supplies for almost eight years, when, 
on the was installed pastor ; but, through 

age and other infirmities, be was dismissed, in a the church became 

t.:-'.. : .: :.-. - . : . ? : . ■ ..-.:..;• v- ..:-. r -..- r. : .-: R; v . X _:.... :.. '. ~:l.-. ■■ ; "• ..? :;.?:_.. ; 
pastor. - where he continued until he was ..: his own reques:. 

ry of Pbiladelp: Afterward th .hentine 

-tailed the pastor, June . I .nd so continued until, at a meeting of 

id at Salem . 324, at bis rec'- - - -ral relation with that congre- 

gation raen the Rev. Alexan.: ne was ordained and installed, 

1 ;:eir pastor until he was 
.son College, 
The Rev. John Bun then took the _ .-arch for some months, 

when B aenne was installed the pastor of this church ; and on 19l 

- pastoral relation, at his request. 1838* 

I benjamin T -iined and installed tr. teo£ 

Jeake, 
:in Stratter S -eoexer 

Loor.. - aeaex Hatt.s. Ephraim Loc: - 

The inhabitants of Bridgeton and vicinity were firm adherents 
to the cause of their country, in the war of the revolution. In 1775 
a company of soldiers w - sed here, of -which the late Gen. Jo- 
seph BloomnY us .ptain. and the late Gen. Ebenezer Elmer a 
lieutenant. This corps marched to the north, and joined the army 
under Schuyler, Dr. J or aer, -who lived many years 
in the place, and died there in IS 17. was a member of the revolu- 
tionary congress : and was one of the first senators under the pres- 
ent constitution of the United States Samaltaneously with the 
whigs of Salem, in the autumn of 1774. a committee of safety was 
appointed for the county, which consisted ol two members from 
each township, who met occasionally, at Cohansey Bridge, to see 
that the association be properly attended to. and energetically and 
punctually observed, in every particular. Toward the doa 
LTT9, and spring of 1780, an association of whigs of this and Sa- 
lem co. built and equipped, at Bridgeton. a fine schooner, as a let- 
ter-of-marque. which, in compliment to the governor of the state, 
was called the " Gov. Livingston." She made but one successful 
trip : and when on her second voyage, on her return home, having 
a very valuable cargo on board, was captured, near the capes of 



140 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 

the Delaware, by a British frigate. No other attempts, of this na- 
ture, were made here afterward. 

The following notice respecting Gen. Elmer, of this town, is from 
the "Bridgeton Chronicle," Oct. 21st, 1843: 

" It is with deep sorrow that we record the death of our oldest and most estimable citi. 
zen, Gen. Ebenezer Elmer, President of the New Jersey Cincinnati Society, and the 
last surviving officer of the New Jersey line of the revolutionary army ; who died on 
Wednesday last, Oct. 18th, aged ninety-one years. 

" Gen. Elmer was born at Cedarville, Cumberland co., N. J., and was the grandson of 
the Rev. Daniel Elmer, who came from Connecticut to Fairfield, in the year 1727. He 
studied medicine with his elder brother, the late Dr. Jonathan Elmer, and was about es- 
tablishing himself in practice when hostilities commenced between America and Great 
Britain. In Jan. 1776, he was commissioned an ensign in the company of continental 
troops commanded by the late Gov. Bloomfield ; and served in that capacity, and as a 
lieutenant in the northern army, until the spring of 1777, when, the army being reorgan- 
ized, he was appointed a surgeon's mate. In June, 1778, he was appointed surgeon of 
the second Jersey regiment, and served in that capacity until the close of the war ; never 
being absent from duty. After the war he married", and settled in Bridgeton, as a phy- 
sician. In 1789 he was elected a member of assembly, and in several succeeding years 
in 1791 and in 1795 he was speaker. In 1800 he was elected a member of congress, and 
sat in that body six years, during the administration of Jefferson, of which he was a sup- 
porter. He was adjutant-general of the militia of New Jersey, and for many years brig- 
adier-general of the Cumberland brigade. During the last war with England, in 1813, 
he commanded the troops stationed at Billingsport, in this state. In the year 1807, and 
afterward in 1815, he was a member of the council of this state, and vice-president. In 
1808, he was appointed collector of the port of Bridgeton, which office he resigned in 
1817 — was reappointed in 1822, and continued in that office until 1832, when he again 
resigned ; and having arrived at the age of fourscore, wholly declined public business. 
In his early years he was deeply impressed with a concern for his immortal interests, 
and has been for many years a member of the Presbyterian church. His great charac- 
teristic, through a long and useful life, was stern integrity. His generosity and benevo- 
lence are known wherever he was known, and ' his praise is in all the churches.' 

" Gen. Elmer was buried on Friday. The funeral proceeded from his late residence to 
the church in Broad-st., where the Rev. Ethan Osborne, one of his revolutionary com- 
patriots, preached an appropriate sermon, from Matt. xxv. 21 ; and then the body was 
interred in the Presbyterian burying-ground." 

It is stated, in a late number of the paper from which the above 
biographical sketch is taken, that Mrs. Sarah Smith, who recently 
died at Bridgeton, was a lineal descendant of the royal family of 
Sweden. 

" Her great-grandmother Elizabeth, in the troublous times of that kingdom, was com- 
pelled to flee from her native country, when she was sixteen years old. She was con- 
cealed in a hogshead, on board of a ship, at Stockholm, for some time before the vessel 
sailed for America. She brought many valuable treasures with her across the water, 
which were also concealed on board the ship ; but after the vessel had sailed over the 
Atlantic, she was wrecked on the Jersey shore. This lady, with a few of the crew, 
barely saved their lives. In her destitute condition, on the shore of a vast wilderness, as 
New Jersey then was, she fell in with a hunter, by the name of Garrison. Their ac- 
quaintance grew into intimacy, and ripened into love. She married him, and by him had 
ten children. It is said that her youngest son, William, was born when she was in her 
fifty-fifth year. She died in the ninety-fifth year of her age. She has a grandson now 
living, in Bridgeton, who was brought up by her, until he was about nine years of age, 
to whom she related this narrative, and many of her interesting adventures. This gen- 
tleman computes his grandmother's descendants in the country at more than 1,000 souls." 



DOWNE. . 

This township is about 11 miles long, E. and W., and 9 broad 
N. and S. It is bounded N. by Millville and Fairfield, S. and SW 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 141 

by the Delaware bay, E. by Maurice river and township of that 
name, and NW. by Fairfield. A great portion of the township, 
that bordering on Delaware bay and Maurice river, is marshy land. 
Downe was probably first settled by Swedes, between 1637 and 
1654. Egg island, in the Delaware bay, belongs to this township. 
From an original draft of a survey, made in 1691, it seems this 
island then contained 300 acres ; but the continual encroachment 
of the sea has reduced it to one acre and a half. The township 
contains 4 stores, 7 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $20,850 ; 
7 schools, 250 scholars. Pop. 1,920. 

The village of Mauricetown is on the river, about 1 1 miles from 
its mouth, and 18 SE. of Bridgeton. It was settled at an early 
date, by the Petersons and Mattocks, and was known as Mattock's 
Landing, until about 1812. It is pleasantly situated, on a high 
bank, above the river ; and contains an academy, a Methodist 
church, and about 30 dwellings. The following account of an 
extraordinary den or burrow of rattlesnakes, found in this village, 
about 40 years since, was lately published : 

" In the early part of summer, Mr. Ichabod Compton, father of Mr. S. Compton, was 
attracted, by the noise of some crows, to a small island, in a swamp, lying contiguous to 
his farm. While in pursuit of the crows, he was startled by the sight of a large rattle- 
snake. He killed this, and another of the same kind, that afternoon ; and, returning 
the next day, he killed seven more, the last of which he found coming out of a hole in 
the ground. This circumstance led to the suspicion that this might be the place where 
the whole battalion had their usual winter-quarters. In the winter, young Compton, ac- 
companied by two of his brothers, repaired to the spot, with implements for digging ; 
and after removing about eight inches of the turf, or upper surface of the ground, they 
found immersed, in three inches of clean water, and lying side by side, twenty-eight rat- 
tlesnakes, one large spotted snake, and four black-snakes. And, to complete this ' in- 
teresting group,' there was, at least, a peck of spring-frogs associated with them. All 
of these reptiles were in a torpid state. For several years, immediately preceding the 
period above alluded to, from ten to twelve rattlesnakes had been destroyed, annually, 
in the neighborhood. , 

" It is also stated that several dens, of a similar description, had been discovered in 
the neighborhood of Buckshutem; in all, or most of which, several kinds of snakes, 
and also frogs, were found grouped together." 

Dividing Creeks is near the central part of the township, on a 
creek of the same name, and 16 miles from Bridgeton. It has a 
Methodist and a Baptist church, and about 40 dwellings. One of 
the present members of the United States senate, from Mississippi, 
was bred a shoemaker in this village, and by his enterprise and 
industry won the way to his present station. Charles Brown, Esq., 
now a member of congress from Pennsylvania, was also bred here. 
A Baptist church was very early established at Dividing Creeks. 

" It was formed about the year 1749, from Cohansey, by Jonadab Sheppard, Thomas 
Sheppard, William Dallas, with their families, and some others. About the year 1760, 
Rev. Samuel Heaton and John Terry removed there, from Cape May. Mr. Heaton's 
wife's name was Abbey Tuttle. They had ten children. These married into the fami- 
lies of the Colsons, Reeves, Lores, Garrisons, Clarks, Cooks, Johnsons, Terrys, and 
Kelseys. From these have sprung a numerous people in the county. Heaton was suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. David Sheppard, in 1764; and he by Rev. Peter Peterson Vanhorn, 
and he by Rev. John Garrison." 



142 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 



Nantuxet, on a creek of the same name on the western line of 
the township, has a Methodist and a Baptist church, and about 40 
dwellings. Buckshutem, where there is a Methodist church, and 
Port Norris, both on Maurice river, are small villages. 

The annexed brief account of an action in Maurice river, oppo- 
site Port Norris, is from a paper published Aug. 29th, 1781 : — 

" Last week, 7 refugees were brought to town from New Jersey. They were taken in 
Maurice river, a few days before, by a few Jersey militia commanded by Capt. James 
Riggins. Tbe militia were in a shallop which the refugees attempted to board, when a 
sharp contest ensued, during which 7 of the refugees were, killed, wben the rest submit- 
ted. There were 15 in all ; and it is said their captain called out that he would give no 
quarter, which occasioned the action to become desperate." 

The following additional particulars of this event, are derived from Mr. Thomas Beese. 
ley, of Cape May, then a boy, and a witness of the action. The brunt of the fight was 
sustained by Capt. Riggins and John Peterson, several of the militia having at the com- 
mencement jumped overboard and swam ashore, while others sneaked into the cabin. 
Riggins killed 4 or 5 of the enemy on their attempting to board. He fired his musket 
twice, and then made such good use of the breech, that at the end of the contest there 
was little left besides the barrel. Peterson was wounded by one of the refugees, who, 
thereupon, was about finishing him by cleaving his head open with an uplifted broad- 
sword, when his little son shot the man dead. Every refugee not killed was wounded, 
and some desperately. A boy only escaped, and a fox which was brought on board the 
day previous by one of the slain, who had joined them at the mouth of the river. There 
were a number of fowls on board, all of which were killed. The brave Capt. Riggins 
lived to a good old age, having died only a few years since. 



FAIRFIELD. 

This township was named from Fairfield in Connecticut, from 
which it was partially settled. It is about 1 1 miles long, 6 broad, 
and bounded northerly by Deerfield, Greenwich, and Hopewell, 
from the two last of which it is separated by the Cohansey river, 
E. by Millville, and S. by Downe and the Delaware bay. The 
land in the township produces good crops of corn, wheat, and oth- 
er grain. There are some excellent tracts of land on the Delaware 
bay. The. surface is generally level. Many of the present inhab- 
itants are descendants of the Harrises and Ogdens from Fairfield, 
Connecticut ; and the Batemans and Diaments from Long Island. 
About the year 1695, the first road laid out in the county was made 
from Fairfield to Burlington, and passed through an Indian settle- 
ment, a little east of Bridgeton, at a locality at present known as 
the " Indian Fields" The township contains 7 stores, 2 grist-m., 
1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $44,015; 5 schools, 114 scholars. 
Pop. 1,935. 

Cedarville, on Cedar creek, 8 miles SE. of Bridgeton, is a village 
scattered a mile and a half on the road, and contains 2 Presbyte- 
rian, a Methodist, and a Baptist church, 2 stores, an oakum factory, 
a tannery, saw-m., &c, and about 100 dwellings. Fairton, 4 miles 
from Bridgeton, has a Methodist church, and about 50 dwellings. 
New England Town is a small scattered settlement where there is 
a Presbyterian church. 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. I43 

The three Presbyterian churches in this township were until a few years since one. 
The original church was constituted by emigrants from Fairfield, in Connecticut, in the 
year 1697, who purchased that tract of land lying on the south side of Caesaria river, 
or Cohansey, and the Delaware bay. It has been generally supposed that their minister 
made one of their number, whose name was Rev. M. Bradnor ; next to him was Rev. 
Mr. Exile. About the year 1705, the Rev. Howel Powel, from Wales, became the pas- 
tor — then, in 1719, Rev. Mr. Hooker — then, in 1727, the Rev. Daniel Elmer, from Con- 
necticut, became the settled minister until 1755 — then, in 1756, the Rev. William Ram- 
sey became the pastor, until 1771, when he died. In 1773, the Rev. William Hollings- 
head became the pastor, and so continued until 1783, when he removed to Charleston, 
South Carolina. — Johnson's Hist, of Salem. In 1789, the Rev. Ethan Osborne, from 
Litchfield, Connecticut, was settled over this congregation. In 1839, he preached his 
half-century sermon. He still continues pastor over the original congregation, now 
much diminished by the division. 



GREENWICH. 

The extreme length of this township is 6, with an average 
breadth of about 3i miles, and is bounded N. by Stow creek, E„ 
by Hopewell and Cohansey creek, which separates it from Fair- 
field, S. by Delaware bay, and W. by L. Alloways Creek, Salem 
co. The township contains 3 stores, 1 grist-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$15,362; 3 schools, 105 scholars. Pop. 918. The land was pur- 
chased from the Indians about the year 1677, who, judging from 
the excavations in the earth, still to be seen, and the quantities of 
stone mortars, axes, and Indian arrow-heads found, must have here 
had a considerable settlement. This is corroborated by tradition. 
The first purchasers of the soil were Nicholas and Leonard Gibbon, 
from England, and the first settlers from New England and Ireland. 
In the graveyard is, or lately was, a stone with this inscription : — 
"Here lies Deborah Swinney, who died April 4, 1760, aged 77 
years. She was the first white female child born at Cohansey." 
Making the subtraction, it appears she was born in 1683. 

Shortly after the first settlement, the town of Greenwich, which 
is 6 miles SW. of Bridgeton, was laid out. The main street was 
then made about 2 miles in length, and 100 feet in width, and an 
Episcopal, a Presbyterian, and a Friends meeting-house erected. 
The village, which is much scattered on this road, now contains 
about 100 dwellings. In 1697, fairs were established at Cohansey, 
as this country was then called, and held semi-annually in April 
and October ; which for many years were much resorted to by 
traders from Philadelphia. After the formation of Cumberland co., 
the court was first held at Cohansey, May, 1748, and a log jail 
erected. " Attorneys' names appearing, were Daniel Mestayer, 
Rose, and Hartshorne : the court sat in the meeting-house. Judges, 
John Brick, Richard Wood, John Remington. Sheriff, Ananias 
Sayre. Clerk, Elias Cotting." In December sessions of this year, 
the court adjourned, and ordered the clerk to make the writs re- 
turnable to Cohansey Bridge, now Bridgeton, where the courts 
since have been held. 

Johnson gives the annexed historical sketches of religious socie- 
ties in Greenwich. 



144 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 



Protestant Episcopal Church at Greenwich. — Two of the emigrants from Gravesend, 
in England, were brothers, to wit, Nicholas and Leonard Gibbon ; they purchased about 
6,000 acres of land near to Cohansick, or, as it is now called, Greenwich, which they 
endeavored to settle by inviting their countrymen to emigrate and locate themselves 
there. Nicholas, the elder brother, built for himself in the village a good and substan- 
tial brick house, which, in those days, was considered elegant for that part of the coun- 
try in which he resided, until about the year 1740, when he removed to the town of Sa- 
lem. That house is now, or has been years past, in the possession of the Wood family. 
Leonard Gibbon, the other brother, built a good and convenient stone house for his resi- 
dence, on his part of the land, about, perhaps, two miles from Greenwich. Nicholas 
Gibbon, Samuel Hedge, and Capt. James Gould carried on mercantile business together, 
as spoken of before, and Gould being located in New York, the exports of the produc- 
tions of that part of the country were consigned to him. The Gibbons, probably being 
the most wealthy, and having a greater quantity of land to dispose of than others of the 
adventurers, erected a neat, comfortable brick church, of the Episcopal order, in the 
village, for the purpose of accommodating their own and neighbors' families. When it 
was finished, they had it consecrated in due form by Rev. Phinehas Bond, a clergyman 
from New Castle, and John Pearsons, the settled minister of the Episcopal church of 
Saint John's in Salem. The consecration of the church took place in the year 1729, 
and was named Saint Stephen's. The Gibbons contracted with Mr. Pearson to officiate 
in their church for them as often as he could be spared from his Salem church ; but as 
the tide of emigration set toward that part of Cohansey, so did the religious feelings of 
the community tend toward the Quaker, Baptist, and Presbyterian sects, until, as a dis- 
tinct body of Christians, the Episcopalians in a few years dwindled away. 

Baptist Church at Cohansey. — So early as about the year 1683, some Baptists from 
Tipperary, in Ireland, settled in the neighborhood of Cohansey. The most prominent 
persons were David Sheppard, Thomas Abbott, and William Button. In 1685, Obadiah 
Holmes and John Cornelius came from Long Island, and settled there. The Rev Tho- 
mas Killingsworth officiated in that church in 1690. In 1710, Rev. Timothy Brooks 
emigrated from Swansey, in Massachusetts, and united there. Obadiah Holmes used 
to preach for the people ; both he and Killingsworth were judges in the court of Salem. 
Killingsworth used to preach occasionally in the house of one Jeremiah Nickson, in 
Penn's Neck. He was succeeded by Rev. Timothy Brooke, and he by Rev. William 
Butcher — then Rev. Nathaniel Jenkins — then Rev. Robert Kelsey, who was from Ire- 
land — and he by Rev. Henry Smally, whose life of great usefulness, as a fervent and 
faithful minister of Jesus Christ, was protracted to this present year, 1839. 

Presbyterian Church at Greenwich. — The Presbyterians received a deed of gift for a 
lot of land from Jeremiah Bacon, to Henry Joice and Thomas Maskell, in trust for the 
Presbyterian church and congregation, as early as the month of April, 1717 ; but in 
consequence of the parsonage house being burnt in 1739, all the books and papers be- 
longing to the pastor and congregation were destroyed. As emigrants flocked into Co- 
hansey from New England, Long Island, Wales, and Ireland, it is very probable that a 
Presbyterian society was formed about the year 1700, or earlier. It has been generally 
believed that a Mr. Black was the first pastor — then the Rev. Ebenezer Gould was in- 
stalled as pastor, in 1728. The members and contributors to the old brick building 
which was taken down in 1835, after standing 100 years, were — Ebenezer Gould, the 
pastor, 



Josiah Fithian, 
William Watson, 
Elias Cotting, 
Samuel Clark, 
VBenjamin Dare, 
Thomas Ewing, 
Abiel Carll, 
Thomas Buryman, 
Abraham Reeves, 
Jonathan Sayre, 
Nathaniel Bishop, 
Samuel Miller, 
John Miller, 
Jonathan Holmes, 
Thomas Waithman, 
Matthias Fithian, 



Constant Maskell, 
John Woolsey, 
Ananias Sayre, 
Aaron Mulford, 
Charles Fordham, 
William Perry, 
Belbe Sheppard, 
Francis Brewster, 
James Caruthers, 
Thomas Read, 
Benjamin Wooten, 
John Woodruff, 
Noah Miller, 
Joseph Moone, 
John Pagget, 
Harber Peck, 



Nehemiah Veal, 
Nathaniel Harris, 
Francis Julis, 
John Shaw, 
Philip Vickers, 
John Keith, 
Uriah Bacon, 
Robert James, 
Stephen Jessup, 
Moses Platts, 
Samuel Morfelt, 
John Fairlaw, 
Joseph Simkins, 
James M'Knight, 
Charles Campbell, 



John Alexander, 
Ebenezer Ash Smith, 
Nathan Lupton, 
James Crawford, 
James Robinson, 
Nathaniel Moore, 
John Tyler, 
John Plumer, 
William Tullis, 
Elias Davis, 
Deborah Keith, 
Mercy Maskell, 
Samuel Bacon, 
Josiah Parvin, 
Thomas Pagget. 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 145 

The Rev. Ebenezer Gould continued the pastor of that church from the year 1728 to 
1740, when he removed to Long Island. This church was favored by the supplies of 
the Rev. Samuel Finley, the celebrated preachers George Whitefield, Tennant, and oth- 
ers, during all which times there was a remarkable revival of religion among that people. 
Whitefield, in a letter to his friend, dated Salem, 20th November, 1740, says, — " Yes- 
terday, at Cohansey, the Spirit of the Lord moved over the whole congregation ; what 
reason have we to be thankful for the great things that we both see and hear !" 

In 1746, the Rev. Andrew Hunter was ordained pastor over the united churches of 
Greenwich and Deerfield. He continued to serve both those churches until 1760, when 
he confined his labors to the Greenwich church until his death, which was in July, 1775. 
And here I must be permitted to mention, that he was an ardent friend to the liberties 
of America, and, like his friend and coadjutor in that noble cause, the Rev. Samuel 
Eaken, took an active part both in and out of the pulpit, and upon all suitable occasions, 
to arouse the spirit of the people against the oppressive measures of the British gov- 
ernment. 

After the decease of Mr. Hunter, the church relied upon supplies until April, 1782, 
when the Rev. George Faitoute was installed pastor. He continued to officiate there 
until 1790, when he removed to Jamaica, Long Island, where he became the pastor of 
that church, and so continued until he died in a good old age. 

In 1792, a Presbyterian church was organized in Bridgeton, and a union being agreed 
upon by the two churches, the Rev. Mr. Clarkson took the oversight of them in 1794, 
and so continued their pastor until 1801, when he relinquished his charge, and settled in 
Savannah, in Georgia. In 1805, the Rev. Jonathan Freeman became their pastor, and 
continued until his death, which was in November, 1822. The present incumbent, Rev. 
Samuel Lawrance, succeeded Mr. Freeman. 

Shortly after the destruction of the tea in Boston, the East India 
tea company determined to try whether they might not meet with 
better success in sending a cargo into the Cohansey. Accordingly 
the brig Greyhound, with a cargo of tea bound to Philadelphia, 
came up the river and discharged at Greenwich, depositing the tea 
in the cellar of a house standing in front of the market ground. 
In the evening of Thursday, Nov. 22d, 1774, it was taken posses- 
sion of by about 40 men, disguised as Indians, who deliberately 
conveyed the chests from the cellar, piled them in an adjoining 
field, and burnt them in one general conflagration. 

" The names of these bold and determined patriots," says John- 
son, " deserve to be handed down to the latest posterity ; and as far 
as can be recollected I herewith cheerfully record them. First, Dr. 
Ebenezer Elmer, Richard Howell, afterward a major in the army, 
and Gov. of New Jersey ; David Pierson, Stephen Pierson, Silas 
Whitecar, Timothy Elmer, Rev. Andrew Hunter, Rev. Philip Tith- 
ian, Alexander Moore, jr., Clarence Parvin, John Hunt, James 
Hunt, Lewis Howell, Henry Stacks, James Ewing, father of the 
late chief-justice of New Jersey, Dr. Thomas Ewing, father of the 
present Dr. William Bedford Ewing, Josiah Seeley, and Joel Fith- 
ian, Esquires. 

" This bold act of these men, (for they were all young fellows,) 
produced much excitement in the lower counties with such persons 
who secretly were disposed to favor the British interest. They 
were loud in their denunciations against these patriots, for what 
they called ' such wanton waste of property, and that they deserved 
to be severely handled for it.' The owners of the tea, finding that 
some commiseration for their loss had been excited among the 
people in the neighborhood, thought proper to try whether they 

19 



146 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 

could not obtain remuneration by having recourse to suits at law. 
Therefore, previous to the sitting of the supreme court, in April, 
1775, Capt. Allen, John Duffield, Stacy Hepburn, and others, brought 
as many as half a dozen suits for damages against some of the 
whigs. The advocates for the plaintiffs were Gen. Joseph Reed, 
of Philadelphia, and Mr. Petitt. 

" As soon as this transaction was known, a meeting of the whigs 
took place, and they immediately resolved to raise, and did raise, a 
considerable sum of money to defend their friends in the contro- 
versy. Accordingly, they forthwith retained on the side of the 
whigs, as their counsellors, Joseph Bloomfield, George Read, of 
New Castle, Elias Boudinot, of Elizabethtown, and Jonathan Dick- 
inson Sargeant, of Philadelphia, who used to practise in the courts 
of the lower counties previous to the American revolution. Jo- 
seph Bloomfield appeared as attorney for the whigs — ' On motion 
of Mr. Sargeant, for Joseph Bloomfield, attorney for the defendants, 
ordered that the plaintiffs, being non-resident, file security for costs, 
agreeable to act of assembly, before further proceedings be had in 
these causes.' Frederick Smyth, the chief-justice, held the oyer 
and terminer in Cumberland county, next after the burning of the 
tea, and charged the grand jury on the subject, but they found no 
bills. He sent them out again, but they still refused to find any 
bills, for this plain reason — they were whigs. The foreman of that 
patriotic jury was Daniel Elmer. But as the American contest 
soon became serious, and hostilities were carried on in different 
parts of the states, the suits were dropped, and never after renewed." 

In the revolutionary contest, the inhabitants of the county upon 
the shore of Delaware bay were frequently alarmed and sometimes 
plundered by the refugees. When the British fleet ascended the 
Delaware to attack Philadelphia, a party of armed men landed 
and destroyed some cattle upon the salt marsh between the Cohan- 
sey and Stow creeks. On the appearance of a few militia they 
precipitately returned to their ships. 

The soil of the township is very fertile, and highly cultivated. 
The inhabitants are nearly equally divided between Presbyterians, 
Baptists, and Friends. There are 2 fine libraries. A line of mail 
stages runs twice a week to Philadelphia ; and the communication 
by water is almost continuous — the Cohansey being one of the best 
navigable streams in the state, and its mouth, at all seasons, a se- 
cure harbor for vessels under 15 feet draught. 



HOPEWELL. 

Hopewell is 1 1 m. long by 4 in breadth, — and is bounded N. by 
Upper Alloways Creek, Salem co., S. by Fairfield, E. by Fairfield 
and Deerfield, and W. by Greenwich and Stow creek. The Co- 
hansey forms its eastern and southern boundary line. The surface 
is slightly rolling, — the soil, a clay loam. The township contains 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 147 

5 stores, 1 forge, 1 flouring-m., 2 grist-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$25,150 ; 12 schools, 973 scholars. Pop. 2,220. 

Bridgeton, the seat of justice for the county, is partially in this 
township. Roadstown, on its western border, about 4 m. from the 
courthouse, was early settled by the Mulford family, from Long 
Island. It contains a Baptist church and about 40 dwellings. Shi- 
loh, 2 m. NE. of Roadstown, has about 25 dwellings and a Seventh- 
day Baptist church. 

This church arose about the year 1737. The founders were John Swinnoy, Dr. Elijah 
Bowen, John Jarman, Caleb Barrett, Hugh Dunn, Rev. Jonathan Davis, Caleb Ayres, 
and some others, with their families. About the year 1790, a schism took place among 
them — one part of the society holding the doctrine as promulgated by Winchester, 
(which was that of Universalism,) — the other party retaining the creed of their fore- 
fathers. 



MAURICE RIVER. 

This, the eastern township of the county, is, in extreme length, 
19 m., breadth 10 m. It is bounded NE. by Hamilton and Wey- 
mouth, Atlantic co., SE. by Upper and Dennis Creek, Cape May co., 
S. by Delaware bay, W. by Downe, and NW. by Millville. The 
soil is light, excepting on the margin of the streams, and a consid- 
erable portion of its surface covered with pines. There are in the 
township 6 stores, 2 glass-houses, 7 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $48,060 ; 8 schools, 280 scholars. Pop. 2,143. 

This township derives its name from the river forming its west- 
ern boundary, called by the Indians the Wahatquenack. Its present 
name was given to it from the circumstance of a ship, " the Prince 
Maurice," being burnt by the Indians, and sunk, about half a mile 
below Mauricetown, at a reach in the river known as the " no 
man's friend." The Swedes very early formed settlements on 
Maurice river, at Dorchester and Leesburg, — probably between 
1637 and 1654. There was, anciently, a Swedish church a quarter 
of a mile above Spring Garden ferry, on the eastern bank of the 
river. Some tombstones in the graveyard still exist. Among the 
descendants of these people are the Mosslanders, Vanamans, Peter- 
sons, Millers, Cobbs, &c. 

Port Elizabeth, the principal village, is on a small creek about 
half a mile E. of Maurice river, and 16 m. SE. of Bridgeton. The 
following is a view of the place as it appears on approaching it from 
Millville. The large structure on the left of the engraving is the 
Methodist church, the building with a spire is the academy, and 
the covered bridge on the left is over the Manamuskin creek. 
There are also in the village extensive glass-works, for the manu- 
facture of window-glass, managed by Germans, — a Friends meet- 
ing-house, and about 800 inhabitants. The village was laid out 
about 1790, by Elizabeth Bodeley, a widow lady from Salem co., 
who owned the land. There were then a few houses in the place. 
It was thereupon made a port of entry, and named in honor of this 



143 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 




Northwest View of Port Elizabeth. 

lady. The Methodist church was erected soon after. In 1827, the 
old building was taken down and the present substantial edifice 
reared. A few years after the Methodist church was built, the 
Friends erected their meeting-house. There are also 4 other 
churches in the township — viz., 1 Methodist at Leesburg, 1 do. at 
Cumberland furnace, 1 do. at Morris River Neck, and a Baptist, in 
the southern part of the township, which is used for a schoolhouse. 
Marshallsville, in the extreme eastern part of the township, on 
Tuckahoe river, 25 m. from Bridgeton, has about 40 dwellings, and 
extensive glass-works, for the manufacture of window-glass, owned 
by Dr. Randolph Marshall and others. Considerable ship-building 
is carried on there. Bricksboro, (founded by Joshua Brick, Esq.,) 
Leesbarg, and Dorchester, are small villages on Maurice river. 

The principal portion of the following, relating to loitchcraft, &c, 
in this vicinity, was delivered in a lecture before the Camden Ly- 
ceum, in the winter of 1841-2. 

In 1817 or '18, the hotel in Port Elizabeth was supposed to be possessed by an invisi- 
ble spirit. At dusk there commenced, at intervals, in different apartments of the house, 
a clattering of the windows, as if the sash had been violently struck with the hand. The 
neighborhood, alarmed, nightly assembled to witness this strange occurrence. More 
than a week elapsed ere the imposition was detected. Its author was discovered to be 
a young and artful colored girl, who, soon as it became dark, would skip from one room 
to another, give the terrifying knock, and then hasten back to the family with a counte- 
nance expressive of fear. On detection, she declared she had been bribed by an old 
witch in the village. There is another dwelling at Ewing's Neck that, about the same 
time, had been successively abandoned by two tenants on account of its being haunted ; 
and there was one room so particularly favored by invisible spirits that not anyone dared 
occupy it. The door would mysteriously fly open, sometimes a dozen times an hour, 
without the intervention of human agency. The building stood tenantless for several 
months. At last a person was found who had the hardihood to occupy it. As our in- 
formant was one day passing, he was invited by the tenant to examine into the mystery. 
It was soon solved. The door was not hung perpendicularly — the upper part having an 
inclination backward — and, the latch being rather loose, any little jar would cause it 
to suddenly fly open and forcibly strike against the wall. The evil was remedied, and 
the spirits returned no more. 

In olden times, when the belief in witchcraft was prevalent, and the power of charms 
admitted, it was customary to hang upon the neck by a string a piece of dried beef cut 
in the shape of a heart, with two needles stuck on in the form of a cross, as a protection 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 149 

against witches. Another safeguard was in the horse-shoe, which originally was nailed 
boldly over doors, and in places open to the eye ; but as superstition dispelled before 
the light of a later day, those who pertinaciously clung to the ways of their fathers 
placed it out of sight, under the door-steps, or in some other covert spots ; or else they 
would apply it to some ostensibly useful purpose, such as a hook to the well-sweep, or as 
a catch to receive the gate-latch. It is well known, that in the spring it is customary to 
take off the shoes from horses, and allow them to roam over wet meadows, so that their 
hoofs, which become hard and brittle in the winter, may be softened by the dampness. 
In those times, instead of taking off all the shoes, one was left to answer the valuable 
purpose which this piece of iron was supposed to effect. Another favorite place for the 
shoe, was on the inside of the hinder axle of wagons ; and even to the present day it 
may be found nailed to the under side of the wheelbarrows of the negroes in the Phila- 
delphia market 

Another harmless piece of superstition was in powowing. When a person was afflict- 
ed with the fever and ague, or a burn, some individual invested with a knowledge of this 
secret was called in to operate. It consisted in mumbling over in a confused manner, 
certain unknown texts of Scripture, when, if the patient had faith, a cure would instan- 
taneously follow. This secret could not be imparted by the possessor, excepting to one 
of the opposite sex. The author of the lecture gives an anecdote of an occurrence wit- 
nessed by himself, tending to show that even in our time humiliating instances of such 
weaknesses are found. While waiting on one occasion, at Philadelphia, for the ferry to 
Camden, he overheard two young ladies in the room with him, express impatience at the 
delay of the doctor. In a few minutes this individual appeared, in the person of a vul- 
gar looking colored man. He rubbed his hands over a sort of cancerous wart on the lips 
of one of the females, and after muttering some gibberish language, pronounced the sore 
healed : and then pocketing $5 as his fee, disappeared. Whether the wart was healed, 
our informant has neglected to testify. 

Among the Dutch it was considered a bad omen to sweep the house after sunset, or to 
sweep dirt into the fire. It was a good omen, when using eggs, to sprinkle salt on the 
shells and throw them into the fire ; and bread they thought would not be light, unless 
the sign of a cross was made on the dough. 



MILLVILLE. 

Millville is in extreme length N. and S. 16 miles ; E. and W. 15 ; 
and is bounded NE. by parts of Atlantic and Gloucester counties ; 
southerly by Maurice river, and Downe ; and westerly by Fair- 
field, Deerfield, and Pittsgrove, Salem co. The township contains 
5 stores, 5 glass-houses, 5 grist-m., 9 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$183,920; 5 schools. Pop. 1,771. 

Millville is at the head of tide, and principally on the E. bank 
of Maurice river, 20 miles from its mouth, and 11 E. of Bridgeton. 
The village and vicinity consists of about 150 dwellings, and 1 Bap- 
tist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Presbyterian church. The land on which it 
stands was purchased about the year 1796, by Joseph Buck, Eze- 
kiel Foster, Robert Smith, and Eli Elmer, by whom improvements 
were commenced. Previous to this period it was known as the 
Maurice River bridge ; a tavern having been here a greater part 
of a century. At that period rattlesnakes abounded on the mar- 
gin of the river, but now have disappeared. The Methodist church, 
the oldest in the village, was built in 1822 ; and the dedication ser- 
mon preached by the Rev. Charles Pitman. The Presbyterian 
church was built in 1838, and the Rev. John M'Coy was the first 
settled clergyman. 

The following view was taken on the western bank of the river, 



150 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 




Northwest View of Millville. 

a short distance above the bridge. On the left are seen the exten- 
sive glass-works of Scattergood, Harverstick, & Co. ; on the right 
the central portion of the village ; and on the extreme right, the 
large glass-works at Shutterville, in the lower part of the village. 
There is also near the village an iron furnace, belonging to D. C. 
Wood, Esq. These three establishments unitedly employ about 
300 men. About 3 miles above Millville is a dam in the river, 
from which a canal is cut to the village, for the supply of water- 
power for the works. Large quantities of wood, lumber, and char- 
coal, are exported from here ; and the river is navigable for vessels 
of 100 tons. Millville is thriving, and inhabited by a hardy, indus- 
trious population. 

The following extraordinary incident was communicated to the 
editors of the Christian Advocate and Journal, by the Rev. Mr. 
Purdue, of Millville, in Jan. 1843. 

Mary Coombs, the subject of the following biographical sketch, was born in March, 
1794 ; and when about 10 years of age, she was convinced of her sinful state, and 
brought to serious reflection and prayer by hearing her mother read the Holy Scriptures. 
One passage particularly, the recollection of which she still retains, made, even at that 
tender age, an indelible impression upon her mind. It is Isaiah iii. 11 : " Wo unto the 
wicked, it shall be ill with him ; for the reward of his hands shall be given him." 

At the age of 13 years she experienced a clear sense of God's pardoning mercy, at a 
Methodist quarterly meeting at Tuckahoe. For two years after this happy change, so 
strong were her religious consolations, and so uninterrupted her peace, that, to use her 
own language, she " had neither troubles nor trials." This truce, however, was succeed- 
ed by a season of severe trial ; and she was reduced to " great heaviness through mani- 
fold temptations." She was much harassed with a fear that she should never again en- 
joy the same consolations, or be able to endure the trials and difficulties of life. At a 
class-meeting, held at the dwelling-house of Richard Penn, about 5 miles from this 
place, on the 20th of November, 1808, she was unusually blessed, fell under the power 
of God, and remained for seven days and nights, in one of the most remarkable raptures 
of which I have ever read or heard. 

There was an unusual coldness of the extremities, and an unnatural rigidity or stiff- 
ness of the muscular fibre of the whole body. But a very singular phenomenon was, 
that every day, precisely at 6 o'clock, P. M., consciousness, and the powers of speech, 
and voluntary motion, returned for a short time. 

This was gradual, however, and always preceded by paroxysms of trembling, in which 
her whole frame was violently agitated, accompanied by opening of the eyes, half-artic- 
ulated words, and other signs of returning animation. The first words which she usually 



CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 151 

uttered so as to be distinctly understood, were, " Blessed Jesus !" " Lord, give me more 
strength !" and some others of a like description. 

This intermediate state was generally of about from 30 to 45 minutes duration ; and 
as soon as she could sit up on the bed, she would commence exhorting those about her, 
particularly the unconverted, to forsake their sins, and " flee the wrath to come." This 
was done in the most earnest and serious manner, with an almost unearthly pathos, and 
in the use of language, appeals, and arguments, altogether beyond her degree of mental 
cultivation and intellectual capacity. This will seem the more remarkable, when it is 
considered that she had scarcely any education, said but little on all occasions, and was 
naturally diffident and retiring in her manners. 

The singularity of the case, as might reasonably be expected, produced great excite. 
ment in the neighborhood, and attracted crowds of people, even from a distance, to wit- 
ness her exercises. The knowledge of " sins forgiven" was not considered the privilege 
of believers, even by a majority of those who made a profession of religion in the neigh- 
borhood. The miseries of the damned ; the necessity of immediate repentance ; and 
the fact that sinners might know their sins forgiven in this life, were the principal themes 
of her discourses. The effects produced by these exhortations were truly astonishing. 
From Wednesday until the close of the week, the house was filled to overflowing every 
night ; and but little was heard except the cries of the penitent, the prayers of the pious, 
and the shouts of new-born souls till long after midnight. 

Such was the state of excitement upon this occasion, and such the influence that at- 
tended these exhortations, that persons, upon approaching the house, would be seized 
with conviction for sin at hearing the sound of her voice, before entering the door. Af- 
ter speaking about one hour, if the interval lasted so long, her voice would gradually be- 
come more and more faint, until it ceased to be audible, and she would fall back upon 
the bed, and remain apparently insensible to all external objects till the same time the 
next evening. The sister, at whose house she remained, (now an old and worthy member 
of the church at Port Elizabeth, in this state,) assured me that she asked for neither 
food nor drink during the week ; and that the only nourishment she received was a few 
spoonfuls of thin gruel, which was forced into her mouth at three different times. This 
she received reluctantly, and would finally resist their efforts to force it upon her by 
closing the teeth firmly together. 

One circumstance which served greatly to excite the curiosity of the people, and draw 
them to the place, was, that early in the week she stated that she would be exercised in 
this way every evening till the next sabbath ; and that at the same hour on that day that 
she had fallen into this rapture the previous sabbath, she would have finished her work, 
and would return home. That consciousness, and the powers of speech, and voluntary 
motion, should return every evening precisely at 6 o'clock, (as was found to be the case,) 
when she could by no means have access to any time-piece, was perfectly unaccounta- 
ble upon natural principles. Upon the following sabbath, (November 27, 1808,) the day 
which she had designated for her return home, it was estimated that not less than five 
hundred people were present to witness it. 

At 2 o'clock precisely, one week from the time she had fallen into this rapture, she 
seemed to recover as out of a sweet sleep, and quietly returned home with her friends. 
On being asked, before she left the house, some questions relative to the subjeet which 
had occupied her whole attention during the preceding week, she calmly replied that she 
had nothing more to say — that she had finished the work assigned her for the present. 
I inquired particularly what influence this circumstance had upon her appetite and gen- 
eral health, and was informed that there was no perceptible change. 

A physician from Bridgeton, who visited her during the rapture, was asked his opinion, 
upon which he remarked that he did not " understand the case." Sister Surran (her 
name by marriage) is still living ; and although she has been called, in the providence of 
God, to pass through the fires of temptation, and the waves of affliction, still retains her 
integrity, and sustains an unblemished reputation for consistent piety. I sought an op- 
portunity to converse with her, and requested to know all that she felt free to communi- 
cate concerning her feelings and spiritual perceptions at the time. 

She is, and always has been, reserved on this subject. So much so, that her nearest 
relations have seldom ventured to converse with her concerning it. She stated to me, 
however, that while speaking, she seemed altogether under the influence, and subject to 
the control of a supernatural power ; that to speak required no effort, either of thought 
or reflection, on her part. To use her own language, "The words were all put into my 
mouth, and I had to speak them." 

She described her sensations during the seasons of repose as peculiarly agreeable. She 
heard the commingling of distant but harmonious sounds, such as would be produced by 



152 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 

numerous voices and instruments of music ; which seemed to be wafted upon every breezd 
of heaven, and fell upon her ear in tones of enchanting melody. With reference to this 
world, she was in a state of perfect intellectual abstraction. Not one of its difficulties, 
cares, or even thoughts, intruded upon the sanctuary of her heart In conclusion, I 
would remark, that the circumstances of the case utterly preclude the suspicion of col- 
lusion. 



STOW CREEK. 

Stow creek is about 5 miles long E. and W., and 4 broad N. and 
S. It is bounded NW. by Upper and Lower Alloways creek, Sa- 
lem co. ; E. by Hopewell ; S. by Greenwich ; and W. by Lower 
Alloways creek. It is 4 miles W. of Bridgeton ; soil and sur- 
face diversified ; the township abounds in excellent marl. It 
contains 2 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $32,220 ; 4 sch., 
100 scholars. Pop. 846. 

A considerable trade is carried on in this country in the skins of 
muskrats, which sometimes are sold as high as two dollars fifty 
cents per dozen. This animal is a native of almost all parts of Ameri- 
ca. It is about the size of a small rabbit, and has a thick short 
head, resembling that of a water-rat ; its hair is soft and glossy, 
and beneath the outward hair is a thick, fine down, very useful 
in the manufacture of hats ; it is of a reddish brown color ; its 
breast and belly are ash, tinged with red ; its tail long and flat ; 
its eyes large ; ears short and hairy ; and it has two strong cut- 
ting teeth in each jaw, — those of the under jaw are about an 
inch long, but the upper ones are shorter. In their habits they 
in many respects much resemble the beaver, and are remarkable 
for sagacity and cunning. They are amphibious, and their tails 
being broad and feet nearly web-footed, enables them to swim 
with great facility. In travelling near the seashore, their houses 
are seen numerously scattered over the salt marshes, resembling 
so many hay-cocks in miniature. At the approach of winter, 
several families associate together, and build their little huts, 
commonly from three to five feet in height, composed of herbs 
and rushes cemented with clay, forming a dome-like covering, ex- 
ternally covered with rough reeds. They have each several cells, 
whose tops are above high water, and are lined with soft grass : 
in each of which there is, in the time of breeding in the spring, a 
pair with their progeny, usually consisting of three or four young 
ones. These dwellings are commonly built near the margin of a 
creek or ditch ; from which there are usually two passages, one 
near the top, and the other under ground from the bank of the 
creek. In fresh marshes they have no houses, but burrow in the 
banks. This animal lays up a stock of sedge roots for winter con- 
sumption. They are neat in their habits, and wash these roots 
very clean previous to storing them, by holding them in one paw 
and rubbing them in the water with the other. They are caught 
in traps or speared in their cells. The hunters sometimes take 



ESSEX COUNTY. 153 

them in the spring, by opening their holes and letting the light 
suddenly in upon them. At that time their flesh is excellent. 
They make good pot-pies, and taste much like ducks. In summer, 
the scent of musk is so strong as to render them unpalatable. 
When hard pressed they run to the water, and dive to the bottom ; 
but soon come up to breathe. If taken when young, they are 
easily tamed, very playful, and perfectly inoffensive. Their mor- 
tal enemies are minks. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 

Essex county was first formed in 1675, and its boundaries were 
definitely fixed by the act of Jan. 21st, 1709-10, comprising the ter- 
ritory then known as Elizabethtown and Newark. Its original 
limits have since been reduced. It is now about 20 miles long, 
with an average breadth of 12 miles, being bounded N. by Passaic 
and a small part of Morris counties ; E. by Hudson co., Newark 
bay, and Staten Island ; S. by Middlesex co. ; and W. by Somerset 
and Morris counties. The face of the county is generally level ; 
the soil well cultivated, and highly productive. Two trap ridges, 
known as the first and second mountains, (the latter sometimes 
called the Short Hills,) enter the county on the SW. and cross the 
western part in a NE. direction, and pass into Passaic co. The 
Passaic and Rahway rivers are the principal streams. In 1840 
there were produced in the countv 34,692 bushels of wheat ; rye, 
34,244; Indian corn, 225,314 ; buckwheat, 39,588 ; oats, 181,261 ; 
potatoes, 178,193 bushels. There were 203 stores, with a capital 
of $524,650. Capital in the fisheries, $60,000 ; 6 fulling, 20 grist, 
21 flouring, and 25 saw-mills; 18 paper factories, 3 woollen, and 2 
cotton factories; 4 dyeing and printing establishments; 10 tanne- 
ries, and 6 potteries. Capital invested in manufactures, $3,170,568. 
16 academies, with 680 students. The county is divided into the 
13 following townships: 
Belleville, Elizabeth, New Providence, Springfield, 

Bloomfield, Livingston, Orange, Union, 

Caldwell, Newark, Rahway, Westfield. 

Clinton, 

The population of the townships now composing Essex co., was 
in 1810, 23,961 ; in 1820, 27,455 ; in 1830, 34,201 ; in 1840, 
44,621. 



BELLEVILLE. 

Belleville was formed from the eastern portion of Bloomfield in 
1839. It is 5 miles long, with a width of 2 miles ; bounded N. by 

20 



154 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Acquackanonek, Passaic co. ; E. by Harrison, Hudson co., from 
which it is separated by the Passaic river ; S. by Newark ; and W. 
by Bloomfield. The township contains 12 stores. 4 fulling m., 1 
cotton and 2 woollen factories, 1 dyeing and printing establishment, 
2 flouring-m., 1 grist-m. Cap. in manufac. $479,450. 7 sch., 316 
scholars. Pop. 2,466. The soil of the township is well cultivated and 
productive. It is the seat of extensive manufacturing establishments. 




Eastern View of Belleville. 

The village of Belleville is beautifully situated on the W. bank 
of Passaic river, 3 miles N. of Newark. This place w r as anciently 
called Second river ; and as early as 1682 had a considerable pop- 
ulation. The annexed engraving shows the prominent portion of 
the village, as seen from the eastern bank of the river. The bridge 
and the Reformed Dutch church are seen on the right — the Episco- 
pal churoh, a Gothic structure, on the extreme left ; the Methodist 
church is partially shown in the central part, and the Catholic 
church in the distance beyond, on the hill. This is a pleasant place 
of resort during the summer months, besides being one of consid- 
erable business. There are in the village 4 churches, about a dozen 
stores, many mechanic shops, several manufacturing establishments, 
and about 200 dwellings. There are a number of vessels here, en- 
gaged in transporting raw and manufactured products to New 
York and elsewhere. Franklinville, formerly called Spring Garden, 
a flourishing little manufacturing village, contains about 25 dwel- 
lings, and a Methodist church. 

The following biographical sketches are from the 5th vol. of 
Alden's Collection of Epitaphs, Notes, &c. 

The Rev. Gerardus Haugevort came, with his consort, from Holland to America, a 
little before the middle of the last century. By the influence of Col. John Schuyler, he 
was removed from the place of his first settlement, in the interior of New Jersey, to the 
Reformed Dutch church at Second river, now Belleville, in the township of Bloomfield. 
He was a man of talents, and for a considerable time was highly acceptable to the peo- 
ple of his charge. Being, however, of an irascible temper, he at length, by some un- 
guarded speech, offended his principal patron. To get rid of the dominie, the Col. de- 
clared himself an Episcopalian ; and invited the Rev. Daniel Isaac Browne, rector of 



ESSEX COUNTY. 155 

Trinity church at Newark, to officiate at Second river. For some time Mr. Browne per- 
formed his ministerial functions in a private building near the margin of the Passaic, to 
accommodate the Dutch people, many of whom showed a reluctance at changing their de- 
nomination. Col. Schuyler was at the expense of a Dutch and English impression of 
the Common Prayer Book. This was for many years used at Second river, but at pres- 
ent it is not known that a single copy of it exists. Mr. Haugevort, for some time after 
the unpleasant rupture, kept possession of his church, and statedly preached to his adhe- 
rents ; while the new society, having left the private building, worshipped in the academy. 
At length the doors of the Dutch church were clandestinely fastened. Mr. Haugevort, 
not disposed to flee to another city, then preached from sabbath to sabbath to a few warm 
friends, on the steps of his church door. His salary ceased, and his reduced flock could 
do but little for him. He must have suffered for want of the necessaries of life, if he 
had not brought property with him from his native country. He died about the close of 
the Revolutionary war, leaving a son and grandson, both of whom bear his name, and 
several daughters. He and his patron, who was a distinguished character in his day, 
have long since left a world of imperfection, where good men sometimes unhappily dis- 
agree, and, it is to be hoped, have entered that state in which no discordant passions ever 
interrupt the pleasures of harmony and love. 

Aarent Schuyler came to this country, from Holland, in early life, depending upon 
his industry alone, under Providence, for a support. He at length, by his diligence and 
economy, acquired so much property as to venture on the purchase of a considerable 
tract of rough and wild land, on the banks of the Passaic, opposite to the mouth of the 
Second river. Here he toiled for years, till almost discouraged at the difficulty with 
which he gained a subsistence. He was about to negotiate for the sale of his place, 
when one day his old negro found a ponderous mineral substance on the farm, which so 
attracted his curiosity that he carried a specimen of it to his master. Mr. Schuyler was 
impressed with the idea, from its appearance, that it must be something valuable. He 
immediately carried it to New York, where it was ascertained to be copper ore. He 
then gave up the purpose of selling his estate, and turned his attention to the riches 
which his land embosomed. The ore was found in abundance, and was sent to Eng- 
land to be wrought. Seldom has a mine been discovered, in any part of the world, con- 
taining so great a proportion of pure metal. It is said that every ton of ore exported 
yielded eighty per cent, of copper. Before the Revolutionary war vast treasures were 
drawn from this mine, till the principal shaft was sunk to the depth of 150 feet. For 
many years this fountain of wealth has been neglected, but at a future day will no doubt 
claim the attention of some enterprising proprietor. 

Mr. Schuyler was the father of Col. Peter Schuyler and Col. John Schuyler, both of 
whom were highly respectable in life. The former was a distinguished officer in the 
Provincial forces sent against the French and Indians of Canada, and his name is fre- 
quently mentioned with great and just respect by the historians of his day. 

The Hon. Josiaii Hornblower, [who died Jan. 21st, 1809, at the age of 88 years,] 
a man of most respectable and unblemished character, whose life was highly valued, 
and whose death is deeply deplored, was a native of Staffordshire, in England. Without 
the aid of a liberal education, but with a strong mind and studious habits, at a very 
early period of life, he became perfectly acquainted with some of the most intricate, and 
at the same time most noble branches of science. Mathematics, magnetism, electricity, 
optics, astronomy, and in short the whole system of natural and moral philosophy be- 
came his favorite studies. At the age of between 23 and 24 years, he was engaged to 
come to this country, for the purpose of erecting a steam-engine at the copper-mine then 
belonging to Col. John Schuyler ; in the execution of which, as well as a mineralogist 
generally, he discovered eminent industry, capacity, and genius, and received the most 
unbounded confidence. Shortly after he was established in this country, he connected 
himself in marriage with one of the most respectable families, and had a numerous issue. 
In our Revolutionary struggle, he took a firm and decided part in favor of the indepen- 
dence of this country ; and this was so well known, that he was early honored as a 
representative in congress. He was for several years successively a member of our 
state legislature, and speaker of the house of assembly. He was appointed a judge of 
the court, and sat on the bench with dignity, uprightness, and solidity of judgment. . . . 
In his last illness, which was of the most painful kind, the exercise of every Christian 
grace shone with peculiar lustre. 



156 



ESSEX COUNTY. 

BLOOMFIELD 



Bloomfield is 5 miles long, 3 wide ; bounded N. by Acquacka- 
nonck, Passaic co. ; E. by Belleville ; S. by Orange and Newark ; 
and W. by Caldwell and Orange. The soil is highly productive ; the 
surface on the \V. mountainous. The Second and Third rivers, on 
which are numerous manufacturing establishments, have their 
sources near the foot of the mountains, and flow into the Passaic. 
The Morris canal runs through the E. part. There are in Bloom- 
field, 3 paper, 1 cotton, and 2 woollen factories ; 1 dyeing and print- 
ing establishment ; 1 fulling, 1 copper rolling, 2 grist, and 2 saw m. ; 
and 1 button factory; cap. in manufac. $111,000. There are 3 
academies, 8 schools, 255 scholars. Pop. 2,528. 




View of the Presbyterian Church at Bloomfield. 

The annexed is a view of the Presbyterian church on the milita- 
ry common in Bloomfield, 3| miles NW. of Newark. It is a sub- 
stantial stone edifice, erected in 1796. The village of Bloomfield 
may be considered as extending about 3^ miles in a NW. direction, 
including West Bloomfield. The number of houses within these 
limits is about 300. There are also 2 Presbyterian and 2 Meth- 
odist churches, 7 or 8 stores, and several manufacturing establish- 
ments. Bloomfield was early settled by part of the colony of New 
Englanders which founded Newark. Stone House Plains, in the 
northern part of the township, was settled by the Dutch. It con- 
tains 30 or 40 houses, and a Dutch Reformed church. Speertown, 
in the same vicinity, is a somewhat smaller collection of dwellings. 

The " Bloomfield Collegiate and Commercial School," the 
" Bloomfield Female Seminary," and the " Mount Prospect 
Boarding School" for boys, are respectable literary institutions 
in this township. 

During the Revolutionary war, all this section of country was 
subject to frequent depredations, by bands of marauders and free- 
booters from the British posts, and especially from the garrisons at 



ESSEX COUNTY. 157 

Bergen heights, opposite to New York. These acts of violence and 
plunder were not permitted to pass without a suitable retribution. 
The following well-authenticated incident illustrates the noble 
daring which animated the true friends of their country in these 
times of trial. — It was upon a cold, dark, wintry night, near the 
close of the war, that a party of dauntless spirits, consisting of 
Capt. John Kidney, Capt. Henry Jaroleman, Jacob Garlaw, and 
Halmach Jaroleman, left their families and their firesides in search 
of adventures. A deep snow covered the earth, and the howling 
wind gave admonition to all to remain within ; but our party were 
bent on having prisoners that night. Having provided themselves 
with a pair of fleet horses, attached to a common wood sled, they 
left the neighborhood of the above village, and laid their course 
towards the heights of Bergen. They soon arrived in the vicinity 
of the garrison ; and leaving their horses tied to the fence, they 
went out to reconnoitre. They returned shortly after, having ascer- 
tained that a school-house, some distance from the forts, was filled 
with officers and soldiers rioting and dancing. Their plan of tak- 
ing prisoners being matured, the company started, with Kidney at 
their head. Coming upon the house, Kidney commenced giving 
his orders to his different divisions to surround the house, while he, 
immediately forcing himself in at the door, took good care that his 
guard should show themselves and their bayonets at the threshold. 
Those within were struck with astonishment. " Every one of you 
are my prisoners," cried Kidney ; " surrender or you die !" Having 
ordered them into line, he selected first a British officer, and then a 
refugee — passed them along to the door, where they were muffled 
and hurried away to the sled ; Kidney taking care to warn them 
that " the first one who attempted to escape was a dead man." 
When they reached the meadows they heard the alarm-gun fire, 
but they were too far for pursuit. The prisoners were secured in 
the Morristown jail, and our heroes returned well pleased at the 
night's adventure, leaving their prisoners much chagrined at the 
way they were taken. 



CALDWELL. 

Caldwell was formed from Newark and Acquackanonck, in 
1798. It is about 7 miles long, with an average width of 4 miles ; 
bounded N. by Acquackanonck and Manchester, Passaic co., and 
Pequannock, Morris co.; E. by Bloomfield, S. by Orange and Livings- 
ton, and W. by Hanover and Pequannock, Morris co. The Passaic 
river forms its W. and N. boundary ; the First and Second Moun- 
tains are in the eastern part, and the remainder of the township 
is generally hilly. There are 4 stores, 1 fulling, 3 grist, and 10 
saw-m., 1 woollen and 1 cotton fac. ; cap. in manufac. $36,715 ; 
1 acad., 22 students, 7 schools, 310 scholars. Pop. 2,184. 

The village of Caldwell, 10 miles NW. of Newark, contains 



158 ESSEX COUNTY. 

several stores, a Presbyterian church, and about 30 dwellings. 
Vernon, about 2 miles from Caldwell, contains 1 store, a Methodist 
church, and about 20 dwellings. Fairfield is a rich agricultural 
vicinity in the northern part of the township, where there is a 
Dutch Reformed church. Franklin, about a mile W. of Caldwell, 
contains about 12 dwellings. 



CLINTON. 

Clinton was formed from Newark, Elizabethtown, and Orange, 
in 1834. It has an average length of about 4, with a breadth of 
about 2 1 miles ; bounded N. by Orange and Newark, E. by New- 
ark, S. by Union, and W. by Springfield. It has 4 stores, 2 grist- 
m. ; cap. in manufac. $6,500 ; 3 schools, 137 scholars. Pop. 1,976. 
The soil is generally fertile, producing abundant crops of Indian 
corn and grass. Great quantities of fruit of different kinds are 
raised in this section. 

Camptown, 3^ miles SW. from Newark, is a flourishing village, 
containing 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Free church, several 
stores, and about 40 or 50 dwellings. During the Revolutionary 
war, the American army encamped here for some time, from which 
circumstance the place derives its name. 



ELIZABETH. 

Elizabeth is one of the oldest townships in the state. It received 
its name from Lady Elizabeth Carteret, the wife and executrix of 
Sir George Carteret. The original area of the township has been 
much reduced. It is bounded N. by Newark, E. by Newark bay, 
W. by Union, and S. by Rahway and Staten Island sound. The 
soil is fertile, and is composed of red-shale, clay, loam, and marsh. 
Large quantities of grass are cut, on the marsh, for manure. There 
are in the township 22 stores, 3 potteries, 2 printing-offices, a grist, 
saw, and oil mill ; cap. in manufac. $297,250. There are 3 acad- 
emies, 150 students, 10 schools, 393 scholars. Pop. 4,184. 

Elizabethport lies on Staten Island sound, 2 miles from Elizabeth- 
town, and 12 from New York, with which there is a daily steam- 
boat communication. It is a new and thriving place, and, being 
the commencement of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, 
it will ultimately be a place of considerable importance. There 
are now here several manufacturing establishments, a church, and 
about 100 dwellings. 

The village of Elizabethtown is situated 4 miles from Newark, 
on Elizabethtown creek, 2f miles from its entrance into Staten 
Island sound. The New Jersey railroad, and the Elizabethtown 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



159 




View in the central part of Elizabethtown. 

and Somerville railroad, pass through it. It contains a courthouse, 
a jail, a bank, an insurance-office, 4 churches, (1 Methodist, 2 Pres- 
byterian, and 1 Episcopal.) 3 or 4 academies, upward of 400 dwell- 
ing-houses, and about 2,500 inhabitants. In the annexed engrav- 
ing, the spire of the Presbyterian church is seen nearly in the cen- 
tral part, with the courthouse by its side, on the south ; the spires 
of the Episcopal and second Presbyterian churches are seen on the 
right. The "Borough of Elizabeth'" received its act of incorpora- 
tion in the thirteenth year of the reign of George II., Feb. 8th, 
1739. All the essential features of this ancient charter (which is 
similar to that of cities) are retained to the present day. 

Elizabethtown was the third settlement made in the state of 
New Jersey, and the first by the English. The land on which it 
stands was purchased from certain Indian chiefs, residing on Staten 
Island, in 1664, by John Baily, Daniel Denton, and Luke Watson, 
of Jamaica, Long Island ; and Gov. Richard Nichols granted a pa- 
tent for it to John Baker of New York, John Ogden of Northamp- 
ton, John Baily, and Luke Watson. These, with their associates, 
are those usually known as the "Elizabethtown Associates." The 
land purchased by them from the Indians, and patented to them by 
Nichols, was named the " Elizabethtown Grant." The associates 
were seventy-four in number ; and their descendants, bearing their 
names, are very numerous in East Jersey. 

The " Elizabethtown Grant" was claimed by another class of 
people, under a title granted by the Duke of York. The claims 
of the " Associates," and those of the grantees of the duke, came 
often into terrible conflict, and gave rise to commotions deeply per- 
plexing, and greatly injurious to the settlement. Philip Carteret, 
the first governor of East Jersey, with thirty English settlers, came 



160 ESSEX COUNTY. 

to this town in 1665 ; which he made the capital of the province, 
and named it in honor of Lady Elizabeth, the wife of his brother, 
one of the proprietors of East Jersey. On his arrival here, there 
were only four log-huts in the town. In partnership with his 
brother, Sir George Carteret, a little settlement was formed on the 
bank of the creek, probably on the south side of Water-st., where 
he built a house for his residence — the first government-house of 
East Jersey. 

For many years after the settlement of the province, Elizabeth- 
town was the largest and most flourishing place in it. Here were 
all the public offices, and here was the residence of most of the 
officers of the government. The first general assembly, composed 
of governor, council, and a house of burgesses, met here in 1668 : 
and here it met (with few exceptions) up to 1682. In 1686, it met 
at"Amboy Perth," and subsequently alternated between Amboy 
and Burlington, occasionally meeting here, until it was perma- 
nently located at Trenton. There is not a trace of the first public 
buildings of East Jersey, nor does even tradition point out the place 
on which they stood.* 

The first inhabitants of this town formed a mixed population, 
made up of emigrants from New England, England, Long Island, 
and Scotland. It is easily inferred that Puritan influence predomi- 
nated in the first colonial legislature, as we find some of the chief 
features of the Puritan code transferred to the statute-book of New 
Jersey. We infer that, in religious sentiments, the first inhabitants 
of this town were mainly Presbyterians, or Congregationalists, from 
the fact that they were mainly from the places above mentioned, and 
that much of the emigration from England then was caused by the 
intolerance of the established church. 

The First Presbyterian congregation here is the oldest in the 
town ; indeed, it is the oldest in the state organized for the worship 
of God, in the English language. It dates its existence from 1666 
or 1667. When the old church, in which the congregation wor- 
shipped, was erected, is uncertain. Its ancient and venerable ap- 
pearance is yet remembered, by many of the old inhabitants. It 
stood where the First church now stands, and, fired by the torch of 
a refugee, it was burned on the 25th of Jan., 1780. The present 
commanding and noble superstructure was commenced immediately 
on the close of the war of the revolution, and was completed un- 
der the ministry of Mr. Austin, in 1791 or 1792. During the revo- 
lutionary war, this town was greatly harassed by the enemy, and 
this congregation suffered severely. After their church was burnt, 
they for some time worshipped in a large storehouse, fitted up for 
the purpose. 

The following, as far as known, are the names of the ministers 
who have served in this church, down to the present day: 

* From a communication by the Rev. Dr. Murray, of Elizabethtown. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 161 

Settled. Removed by death or dismission. 

"Rev. John Harriman Oct. 1, 1687 1704, died. 

" Melyne June 1, 1704 

" Jonathan Dickenson 1707 or 1708 October 7, 1747, died. 

" Eliliu. Spencer, D. D (About) 1748 -dismissed. 

" Abraham Kettletas Sept. 14,1757" 1759, dismissed. 

" James Caldwell Decern., 1761 Nov'r 24, 1781, died. 

" William Linn, D. D Junel4, 1786 Nov'r 1, 1786, dismissed. 

" David Austin Sept. 9, 1788 May 4, 1797, dismissed. 

" John Giles June24,1800 Oct'r 7, 1800, dismissed. 

" Henry Kollock, D. D Dec. 10, 1800 Dec'r 21, 1803, dismissed. 

" John M'Dowell, D. D Dec.26, 1804 May — , 1833." 

" Nicholas Murray, D. D July23, X833. 

The College of New Jersey, now one of the most flourishing in 
the Union, was chartered by John Hamilton, acting governor, in 
1746 ; and was commenced in this town, under the direction of the 
Rev. Jonathan Dickenson, its first president. An old academy, 
which stood where the lecture-room of the First Presbyterian 
church now stands, and which was burned down during the war 
of the revolution, contained the first recitation-rooms of the first 
classes ever attached to the College of New Jersey. That college 
was brought into existence mainly through the influence of Mr. 
Dickenson ; but he was spared to preside over its interests only one 
year. 

The next oldest congregation in the town is the Episcopal. It 
was organized in 1704, by the Rev. Mr. Brook, a missionary of the 
" Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The found- 
ations of the church edifice were laid in 1706, since which it has 
been twice enlarged ; and it is now a neat, though a comparatively 
small building. Its first rector, Rev. Mr. Brook, died in 1707. In 
a few years he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Vaughn, who died in 
1747, after a ministry in it of thirty-eight years. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. Mr. Wood, and he again by Rev. Dr. Chandler, who 
continued its rector for forty years, and died in 1790. He was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Spagg, who died in 1794. Mr. Rayner was elected 
his successor, who remained here till 1801. He was succeeded by 
Dr. Beasley, who left the parish in 1803 ; and was succeeded by Mr- 
Lilly, who retired in 1805. Dr. Rudd became rector in 1805, and 
retired in 1826. The Rev. Mr. Pyne was elected in 1826, and re- 
tired in 1828. Rev. Mr. Noble was elected in 1829, and retired i» 
1833. The present rector, Rev. R. C. Moore, was settled in 1834. 

The Second Presbyterian church was organized in 1819, and its 
first and present minister is the Rev. Dr. Magie. 

The Methodist church was first organized in 1785. The Rev- 
Thomas Morrell, one of the fathers of the Methodist church in 
America, preached for many years at Elizabethtown. He was a 
major in the revolutionary army, and distinguished himself on va 7 
rious occasions. In June, 1786, he began to preach as a local 
preacher at this place, and in the following year commenced riding 
as a travelling preacher. He was a man of great energy, and fer- 
vent piety. He died here in 1838, in the 91st year of his age. 

21 



1G2 



ESSEX COUNTY. 




Facsimile of Gov. Livingston's Signature 



View of the Livingston Mansion, ElizabetJttown. 

The above is a representation of the Mansion House formerly 
the seat of William Livingston, LL. D., Gov. of New Jersey, and a 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. This house, now the 
residence of John Kean, Esq., is situated about a mile northward of 
the village. Gov. Livingston 
was descended from a Scotch 
family which settled in the city 
of New York, (where he was 
born, about the year 1723,) and 
was graduated at Yale College in 1741. He afterwards be- 
came a distinguished lawyer, and, upon his removal to New Jer- 
sey, was chosen a member of the first congress in 1774 — having 
previously signalized himself by his writings against the encroach- 
ments of Britain. When the inhabitants of New Jersey had de- 
posed Gov. Franklin, and formed a new constitution, in July, 1776, 
Mr. Livingston was elected their first governor, and continued to 
be annually re-elected till his death. He was a delegate to the 
convention which formed the Constitution of the United States. 
He died at his seat in Elizabethtown, July 25th, 1790. Gov. Liv- 
ingston was, from his youth, remarkably plain and simple in his 
dress and manners, and, in the opinion of his Christian friends, sin- 
cerely pious. Besides his political writings, he was the author of 
various essays upon miscellaneous topics. His poem, entitled 
" Philosophic Solitude, or the Choice of a Rural Life," was published 
in 1747, when he was about 24 years of age. The following lines 
are extracted from it : 

" Let ardent heroes seek renown in arms, 
Pant after fame, and rush to war's alarms ; 
To shining palaces let fools resort, 
And dunces cringe to be esteem 'd at court : 
Mine be the pleasures of a rural life, 
From noise remote, and ignorant of strife ; 
Far from the painted belle, and white-gloved beau, 



ESSEX COUNTY. 1G3 

The lawless masquerade, and midnight show, — 
From ladies, lap-dogs, courtiers, garters, stars, 
Fops, fiddlers, tyrants, emperors, and czars. 

Full in the centre of some shady grove, 
By nature form'd for solitude and love, — 
On banks array'd with ever-blooming flowers, 
Near beauteous landscapes, or by roseate bowers, 
My neat, but simple mansion would I raise, 
Unlike the sumptuous domes of modern days, 
Devoid of pomp, with rural plainness form'd, 
With savage game and glossy shells adorn'd. 
******** 
No trumpets there with martial clangor sound ; 
No prostrate heroes strew the crimson'd ground; 
No groves of lances glitter in the air, 
Nor thundering drums provoke the sanguine war ; 
But white-robed peace and universal love 
Smile in the field, and brighten every grove. 
******** 
Oft would I wander through the dewy field, 
Where clustering roses balmy fragrance yield ; 
Or, in lone grots for contemplation made, 
Converse with angels and the mighty dead ; 
For all around unnumber'd spirits fly, 
Waft on the breeze, or walk the liquid sky ; 
Inspire the poet with repeated dreams, 
Who gives his hallow'd muse to sacred themes ; 
Protect the just, serene their gloomy hours, 
Becalm their slumbers, and refresh their powers. 
******** 
And when with age thy head is silver'd o'er, 
And, cold in death, thy bosom beats no more, 
Thy soul, exulting, shall desert its clay, 
And mount triumphant to eternal day." 

The following extracts from ancient newspapers will throw light 
on the history of the times : 

County of Essex, State of New Jersey. 
Personally appeared before me, Isaac Woodruff, one of the judges of the inferior courts 
for said county, Ephraim Marsh, Jun., of said county, of full age, and, being duly 
sworn, deposeth and saith, that some time in February past, he, this deponent, was on 
Staten Island, in company with Cortlandt Skinner, William Luce, and Philip Van Cort- 
land, who are all, or have been said to be, officers in the British service ; and that the 
said Cortlandt Skinner, who is called Gen. Skinner, asked him, the said deponent, if he 

knew where that d- d old rascal Gov. Livingston was, (meaning the governor of the 

state of New Jersey ;) and the said Cortlandt Skinner further said unto the s'd deponent, 

that if he would bring over that old d -d rascal, (meaning the governor aforesaid,) 

that it would make his fortune forever, — for the minute that he was delivered on Staten 
Island, he, the said deponent, should receive two thousand guineas, and a pension from 
the crown of Great Britain during life. The same words were repeated by William Luce 
and Philip Van Cortland, — who further said, that if he, the said deponent, would take 
his life, (meaning the life of the governor aforesaid,) it would answer the purpose. The 
said deponent further saith, that on the 24th day of May now last past, he was again on 
Staten Island, and in company with one certain Buskirk, who is said to be a colonel in 
the British service, who said to the said deponent that he was surprised that he, the said 
deponent, did not bring oft" the governor of New Jersey, or take his life, — as that would 
be the means of putting an end to the rebellion ; and, as soon as either was performed, 
the person that did it should receive two thousand guineas for their services. And further 
this deponent saith not. 

EPHRAIM MARSH, Jun. 



Sworn before me this 19th of June, 



Isaac Woodruff 



1778. I 

IFF. £ 



164 ESSEX COUNTY. 

The following correspondence between Gov. Livingston and 
Gen. Sir Henry Clinton is in a strain of amusing sarcasm and re- 
tort : 

Gov. Livingston to Gen. Clinton. 

Elizabethtown, March 29th, 1779. 

Sir — I beg leave to acquaint you that I am possessed of the most authentic proofs of 
a general officer under your command having offered a large sum of money to an inhabit- 
ant of this state to assassinate me, in case he could not take me alive. This, sir, is so 
repugnant to the character which I have hitherto formed of Sir Henry Clinton, that I 
think it highly improbable you should either countenance, connive at, or be privy to, a 
design so sanguinary and disgraceful. Taking it, however, for granted, that you are a 
gentleman of too much spirit to disown any thing you think proper to abet, I give you 
this opportunity of disavowing such dark proceedings, if undertaken without your appro- 
bation, — assuring you, at the same time, that if countenanced by you, your person is more 
in my power than I have reason to think you imagine. I have the honor to be, with all 
due respect, your excellency's most humble servant. 

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON. 

Gen. Sir Henry Clinton. 

Gen. Clinton's Reply. 

New York, April 10th, 1779. 
Sir — As you address me on a grave subject, (no less than life and death, and your 
own person concerned,) I condescend to answer you ; but must not be troubled with any 
further correspondence with Mr. Livingston. 

Had I a soul capable of harboring so infamous an idea as assassination, you, sir, at 
least, would have nothing to fear ; for, be assured, I should not blacken myself with so 
foul a crime to obtain so trifling an end. 

Sensible of the power you boast, (of being able to dispose of my life, by means of in- 
timates of yours, ready to murder at your command,) I can only congratulate you on 
your amiable connections, and acknowledge myself your most humble servant. 

H. CLINTON. 
William Livingston, Esq., New Jersey. 

Gov. Livingston, in a somewhat lengthy reply to the above, thus 
apologizes for answering : " But by the laws of England, sir, (the 
best of which we intend to adopt, leaving the rest to our old friends 
of the realm.) he who opens a cause hath the privilege of conclu- 
ding it." The governor then goes on to state, in a sarcastic man- 
ner, the wonderful condescension of Sir Henry in deigning to an- 
swer his epistle. After some further remark in relation to his 
capability of harboring so infamous an idea as assassination, he 
says — " How trifling an end soever you may suppose would be ob- 
tained by my assassination, you certainly thought my capture, not 
long since, important enough to make me a principal object of 
■what was, in a literal sense, a very dirty expedition." The letter 
concludes with the following paragraph : 

" As to your ' must not be troubled with any further correspondence with Mr. Living- 
ston,' believe me, sir, that I have not the least passion for interrupting your more useful 
correspondence with the British ministry, — by which the nation will doubtless be great- 
ly edified, and which will probably furnish materials for the most authentic history of the 
present war, — and that you cannot be less ambitious of my correspondence than I am 
of yours ; because — whatever improvement I might hope to receive from you in the art 
of war, (and especially in the particular branches of conducting moonlight retreats* and 

* In Sir Henry Clinton's account of his retreat at Monmouth, he states that he took 
advantage of the moonlight, when, in reality, it took place several hours after the moon 
had set. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 165 

planning secret expeditions,*) — I should not expect, from our correspondence, any con- 
siderable edification or refinement in the epistolary way. I am, therefore, extremely 
willing to terminate it, by wishing you a safe voyage across the Atlantic, with the sin- 
gular glory of having attempted to reduce to bondage a people determined to be free and 
independent." 

Extract of a letter from Gen. Washington to congress, dated 
Head Quarters, Middlebrook, Feb. 26, 1779 : 

" Yesterday morning a detachment of the enemy, from Staten Island, made an at- 
tempt to surprise the post at Elizabeth Town. On receiving information of it, Gen. St. 
Clair, with the Pennsylvania division, and Gen. Smallwood, with the Maryland division, 
were put in motion, by different routes, to form a junction at the Scotch Plains, and pro- 
ceed to reinforce Gen. Maxwell, and act as circumstances should require. Intelligence 
of the sudden retreat of the enemy occasioned their recall before they had advanced far. 
The enclosed copy of a letter from Gen. Maxwell, will furnish all the particulars I have 
received of this fruitless excursion." 

Extract of a letter from Brigadier Gen. Maxwell to Gen. Wash- 
ington, dated Elizabethtown, Feb. 25, 1779 : 

Sir — The enemy attempted a surprise this morning. They disembarked about 3 
o'clock, — at which time Col. Ogden, officer of the day, obtained information and con- 
veyed it to me. Their landing was made on our left, as it appeared the most unsuspect- 
ed part, being a very difficult marsh. 

Not knowing their design or numbers, after assembling the troops I marched them to 
the rear of the town, that they might not turn our left flank or gain our rear. When 
daylight ensued, we pressed upon the enemy, who were then retiring to their boats. In 
the pursuit, many of them were killed, and some others fell into our hands. 

During our absence from the town they collected a number of cattle and horses, which, 
upon our advancing, fell into our hands. They returned by the same difficult and almost 
inaccessible marsh, or salt meadow. Cols. Dayton, Ogden, and Barber, with select and 
different detachments, pursued them ; but the quickness of their embarkation, added to 
the difficulty of the marsh, prevented any other success than capturing one of their 
boats, with the hands. 

Our loss, I think, does not amount to more than three or four men. Major Ogden, 
who first reconnoitred the enemy, received a sudden wound by a bayonet ; but, it is 
hoped, not dangerous. The militia assembled, on this occasion, with the utmost alacri- 
ty, and, with Col. Shrieve, from Newark, having early taken the alarm, marched imme- 
diately to our support. The enemy's design and expectation, by this movement, was 
undoubtedly a complete surprise, — in which, I am happy to acquaint your excellency, 
they were as completely disappointed. 

The following letter, dated September 8th, 1776, was addressed 
by Mr. Cavelier Jouet, of Elizabethtown, to the president of the 
convention of New Jersey. He was one of those unfortunate per- 
sons arrested on suspicion of being inimical to the cause of his 
country. He was ordered by the convention to reside at Basking 
Ridge, confining himself within a circle of four miles of that place. 
This letter is written for the purpose of obtaining release, so as to 
attend to his family, who were residents of Elizabethtown, and 
liable to suffer from incursions of the enemy : 

Sir — I presume to approach you without the ceremony of a formal introduction, by 
slow advances, in studied phrases, and flattering circumlocutious cant. I am a plain, 
and, I trust, however misrepresented, an honest man, who has never sought the ruin of 
his country by insidiously endeavoring to sap the foundation of its liberties so much as 
attempting to interrupt its peace and quiet under any pretences whatever. As such, I 
think it needless to trouble you with any complimentary strains, either upon your private 

* All of his many secret expeditions were singularly unsuccessful, — evincing a want 
of generalship. 



166 ESSEX COUNTY. 

character, (which — though I have not the honor of a personal acquaintance with you — ■ 
has reached my ears,) or upon your discharge of the great public trust which has been 
reposed in you ; nor yet to enter into any labored exculpation of myself from the cruel 
suspicions which have been so unjustly excited (to use no harsher terms) by the selfish 
and unfeeling. If my intrusion, sir, for its plainness, should be deemed impertinent, you 
will, I hope, punish it only by neglect. The occasion of my addressing you is the un- 
happy situation my poor family are in, at Elizabethtown ; for as to myself, thank God, 
my afflictions are not yet greater than I can bear. Disagreeable as my state is, my phi- 
losophy is full equal to my sufferings. Whilst other gentlemen, who have always been 
suffered to act with more freedom than I dare make use of, were early making retreats 
for their families, I was cautious and wary of doing it, lest I should be stigmatized with 
an intention of discouraging the populace by a show of moving, — until, at last, my fam- 
ily are left in the centre of Elizabeth, subject to every alarm, and destitute of any place 
of refuge to fly to, and deprived of any assistance from him to whom a weakly wife and 
an infant family have been accustomed to look up. Mrs. Jouet has already, besides her 
sufferings in common with others, sustained a very dangerous miscarriage, and is left 
in so weakly a state, that it is much out of her power to exert herself, in the manner she 
would otherwise do, to get a place for the family ; and, whilst I am restricted to the 
circle of four miles, it is not in my power to do any thing for her, — as no accommodations 
are to be had within that compass. The favor I would therefore request of you, sir, is 
to grant me your good offices and influence to obtain an enlargement of my parole, by 
which to afford Mrs. Jouet the needed assistance in procuring a place for our family. I 
humbly conceive, if my boundaries were extended anywhere above the Short Hills be- 
tween Elizabeth and Passaic river, along the course of the Long Hill above Turkey, so 
as not to come lower down than those heights, it would answer all imagined necessary 
purposes to the country. This would afford some chance of procuring a settlement for 
my family. For I trust I need not more than hint to you the difficulty of procuring ac- 
commodations for a family at this juncture. However or in whatever way it may be the 
pleasure of the convention to grant me an enlargement, and relieve Mrs. Jouet from her 
difficulties, it will be gratefully received by, sir, your very humble servant, 

Cavelikr Jouet." 

On Tuesday night, the 27th ult., (April, 1781,) about 200 regulars and refugees from 
Staten Island, under the command of Maj. Beckwith, — who had eluded, by circuitous 
routes, the vigilance of the different patroles, — entered Elizabethtown in four divisions ; 
where they captured ten of the inhabitants, one lieutenant and three privates of the state 
troops, and two continental soldiers. They stayed about an hour and a half in town, 
and then retreated, with the loss of one man killed and another taken prisoner. They 
plundered the house of Mr. Joseph Crane to a very considerable amount. 

From Rivington's Royal Gazette, Jan. 29, 1780. 

On Tuesday night, the 25th inst., the rebel press at Elizabethtown were completely 
surprised and carried off by different detachments of the king's troops. 

Lieut. Col. Buskirk's detachment, — consisting of about 120 men from the 1st and 4th 
battalions of Brig. Gen. Skinner's brigade, with 12 dragoons under the command of 
Lieut. Stuart, — moved from Staten Island early in the night, and got into Elizabethtown 
without being discovered, between the hours of 10 and 11. With little resistance, they 
made prisoners 2 majors, 3 captains, and 47 privates, — among whom were 5 dragoons, 
with their horses, arms, and accoutrements. Few of the rebels were killed, but several 
were wounded by the dragoons, though they afterwards escaped. 

Maj. Lumm, of the 44th regiment, marched from Powles Hook about 8 at night, 
having under his command the flank companies of that regiment, with detachments 
from the 42d Anspach and Hessian corps in garrison in this city, and, passing the rebel 
patrols upon the banks of the Passaic, reached the town of Newark, unperceived by the 
enemy, about an hour later than Col. Buskirk's arrival at Elizabethtown. Small parties 
were instantly posted to guard the principal avenues to the town, and Maj. Lumm seized 
possession of the academy, which the rebels had converted into a barrack. A moment- 
ary defence being attempted, seven or eight of the enemy were killed. The remainder, 
consisting of 34 non-commissioned officers and private men, were taken prisoners, — as 
were likewise a rebel magistrate, remarkable for his persecuting spirit, and another in- 
habitant. The captain who commanded in Newark made his escape. The Lieut, is 
said to be killed. 

The services were performed without loss. The following are the names of some of 
the rebel officers brought to town on Thursday last, from Newark : Joseph Haddon, a 



ESSEX COUNTY. 167 

magistrate, and commissioner for the sale of the loyalists' estates in New Jersey ; Mr. 
Robert Nott, an acting commissary. From Elizabethtown : Maj. Eccles, of the 5th 
Maryland regiment ; Col. Belt, of the 4th regiment, from Prince George co. ; Mr. B. 
Smith, son of Peartise Smith ; Maj. Williamson and his brother. 

The following biographical sketches of Rev. Jonathan Dicken- 
son and Rev. James Caldwell, are extracted from memoirs recently 
published in the New York Observer : — 

Jonathan Dickenson was born in Hatfield, Mass., April 22d, 1688. He was gradua- 
ted at Yale College in 1706. Where, or with whom he studied divinity, is now unknown ; 
but in the year 1707 or 1708, and when he was about twenty-one years of age, he be- 
came pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Elizabethtown, N. J., of which he was 
for forty years the devoted and beloved pastor. 

A controversy which had existed for some time in the synod of Philadelphia, then 
representing the whole Presbyterian church in the provinces, resulted in dividing that 
synod into two parts in 1741, which were thereafter known as the synods of New York 
and Philadelphia. From the time of their separation each made strong exertions to edu- 
cate youth for the ministry, with the mingled purpose of raising the standard of minis- 
terial education, and of strengthening their party. New Jersey went nearly unanimously 
with the synod of New York ; and as the Presbyterian church was much stronger there 
than in New York, it was determined if possible to establish a college, and to locate it 
in New Jersey. Dickenson was the leader of his party in the old synod of Philadelphia ; 
and, after the separation, was the leading man in the synod of New York. He it was, 
no doubt, that gave being and shape to the deliberations that resulted in the creation of 
the College of New Jersey. He had been for several years a very successful and popu- 
lar teacher of young men ; and when the institution was resolved upon, every eye turned 
to him as the best qualified to lay its foundations, and to superintend its concerns. A 
charter for the college was sought, and granted by John Hamilton, who acted as gover- 
nor, (being the oldest member of council,) between the death of Gov. Morris, in May, 
1746, and the induction of Gov. Belcher in 1747. The college thus founded was com- 
menced in Elizabethtown, and Mr. Dickenson was chosen its first president. It is now 
in a very flourishing state, with an able and extended faculty, with numerous buildings 
and students ; but then, with the exception of an usher, the president was the only 
teacher, and the number of students was about twenty, who boarded with the president 
and with other families in the town. An old academy, which stood where the lecture- 
room of the First Presbyterian church in that town now stands, and which was burned 
down during the war of the revolution, contained the first recitation-room of the first 
classes ever attached to the New Jersey College. Although brought into existence 
through the energy and influence of Dickenson, he was spared to act as its president 
but one year, as he died Oct. 7, 1747. The students were then removed to Newark, and 
placed under the care of the Rev. Aaron Burr, who was elected to succeed Dickenson-; 
and in 1757, when about seventy in number, they were removed to Princeton, where the 
first college edifice was erected, and which, in honor of William III. of England, prince 
of Orange and Nassau, the assertor of Protestant liberty, was called Nassau Hall. This 
great and good man died of pleurisy in the 60th year of his age, — though not full of years, 
yet full of honors. 

The first Presbyterian parish of Elizabethtown is now a very large one ; but when 
under the care of Dickenson, it embraced Rahway, Westfield, Connecticut Farms, and 
Springfield. Over this extensive field the pastoral labors of Dickenson were scattered. 
And while a most laborious and faithful pastor, he was one of the most accomplished 
teachers of his day. He was compelled by the smallness of his salary to cultivate a 
farm, which he managed both with skill and profit. He was also a physician, possess- 
ing a large practice, and obtained a considerable medical reputation. He was also an 
ardent controvertist, and wrote largely on the Arminian and Episcopal controversies. 

Mr. Dickenson left behind him three daughters. One of them married a Mr. Sar- 
geant, of Princeton, N. J., of whom the Hon. John Sargeant, of Philadelphia, is a de- 
scendant. Another married the Rev. Caleb Smith, of Newark mountains, now called 
Orange, and the other became the wife of a Mr. John Cooper. 

It is stated that Mr. Dickenson and the Rev. Mr. Vaughn, rector of the Episcopal 
church, entered Elizabethtown on the same day ; and after living forty years together, 
and serving their churches as pastors, that they died on the same day. Although con- 
troversy was at times very high between them, they never permitted it to embitter their 



168 ESSEX COUNTY. 

feelings, or to interrupt their personal intercourse. Dickenson died about three hours 
before Mr. Vaughn. It was told to Mr. Vaughn in his dying hour that Dickenson was 
no more. And among the last words that he was ever heard to utter, were these : " Oh, 
that I had hold of the skirts of brother Jonathan !" 

Rev. James Caldwell. — We learn from some of his descendants, of whom there are 
very many, that his family was of French origin. Driven from their country by the 
fierce persecution against the Huguenots, they went over to Scotland. In the reign of 
James I., a branch of the family emigrated to Ireland, and settled in the county of An- 
trim. From this branch John Caldwell was descended, who came to this country, bring, 
ing with him, besides his wife and children, four single sisters. He first settled in Lan- 
caster co., Pa., but soon removed to a settlement called Cub creek, in what is now Char- 
lotte co., Va. There James was born, the youngest of seven children. At the age of 
fifteen he was sent to Princeton College, where he graduated in 1759. In about a year 
afterwards he was licensed to preach the gospel ; and whilst the dew of his youth was 
yet upon him, he was ordained and installed pastor of the First Presbyterian church of 
Elizabethtown, N. J., in December, 1761. On the 14th of March, 1763, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Hannah Ogden, of Newark, who was, in every respect, a help-meet for him. 
By her cheerful piety and unshaken fortitude she sustained and comforted him amid the 
many dark and trying scenes through which he was called to pass. 

Shortly after his settlement, those differences between the colonies and Great Britain 
commenced, which resulted in the war of the revolution, and subsequently in the inde- 
pendence of these United States. Descended from the Huguenots, he early learned the 
story of their wrongs, and may be said to have inherited a feeling of opposition to tyr- 
anny and tyrants. Possessing warm feelings, and fine genius, and great muscular en- 
ergy, he entered with all his heart into the controversy. He was elected chaplain of 
those portions of the American army that successively occupied New Jersey. He ac- 
companied, in that capacity, the Jersey brigade to the northern lines ; and such was the 
confidence reposed in his skill and energy, that on his return he was made commissary. 
He was high in the confidence of Washington, with whom he was on the most intimate 
terms of friendship ; and in times of gloom and despondency, by his eloquent and pa- 
triotic appeals, contributed much to sustain and excite the spirits of both officers and 
soldiers. No man in New Jersey contributed so much to give direction and energy to 
the movements of her citizens. His popularity with the soldiers and people was un- 
bounded, and his practical wisdom was held in the highest estimation. 

But the very things that made him popular with the friends of his country rendered 
him odious to its enemies. And to avoid the dangers to which he was constantly ex- 
posed from the tories and the enemy, then in possession of New York and Staten Island, 
he was compelled to remove his residence to Connecticut Farms, about four miles from 
Elizabethtown, where he resided until the day of his murder. 

He was sustained in his political action by his large congregation, and with scarcely 
a single exception. The church in which he preached was yielded as an hospital for the 
sick, and disabled, and wounded soldiers ; its steeple was the watch-tower, and its bell 
it was that sent out the notes of alarm on the approach of the foe. In vengeance on 
pastor and people, the church was fired on the 25th of Jan., 1780, by a refugee called 
Hetfield, whose malignant wickedness will never be forgotten by the residents of East 
Jerse)'. On the 25th of the following June, whilst Gen. Knyphausen was on his way to 
Springfield, Mrs. Caldwell was shot at Connecticut Farms, by a refugee, through the 
window of a room to which she had retired with her children for safety and prayer — two 
balls passing through her body. Her lifeless and bleeding body being laid in the open 
street, the building was fired, and soon the little village was laid in ashes. And on the 
24th of Nov., 1781, Mr. Caldwell himself was shot at Elizabethtown-point, whither he 
had gone for a young lady who had come under the protection of a flag of truce from 
New York. Taking in his hand a little bundle, containing some articles of her clothing, 
he was commanded by the sentinel to stop ; which he hesitating to do, was shot by the 
ruffian through the heart. His corpse was conveyed to the house of Mrs. Noel, at 
Elizabethtown, his unwavering friend, whence it was buried ; Dr. McWhorter, of New- 
ark, preaching the funeral sermon from Eccl. viii. 8. He must have died in about the 
40th year of his age, leaving a name as dear to the country as to the church of Jesus 
Christ. Thus in less than two years the congregation which he served was bereft of 
its church, and of the inestimable wife of the pastor, and of the pastor himself. And 
as a proof of the estimation in which he was held, his name was given to one of the 
towns of Essex co., N. J. 

Mr. Caldwell was shot late on Saturday afternoon, and many of the people were ig- 



ESSEX COUNTY. 169 

norant of the tragical deed until they came to church on the Sabbath. And instead of 
sitting with delight under his instructions, there was a loud cry of wailing over his melan. 
choly end. On the following Tuesday, there was a vast concourse assembled to convey 
his remains to the tomb. After the services were ended, the corpse was placed where 
all might take a last view of their murdered pastor. Before the closing of the coffin, 
Dr. Elias Boudinot came forward, leading a group of nine orphan children, and placing 
them around the bier of their parent, made an address of touching eloquence to the mul- 
titude in their behalf. It was an hour of deep and powerful emotion. The procession 
slowly moved to the grave, weeping as they went. And as they lifted their streaming 
eyes to heaven, they besought the blessings of God upon the fatherless and motherless 
children, and his kind interference to crown with success their efforts against their op- 
pressors. 

So deep was the impression made by this man upon the minds of the youth of his 
charge, that after a lapse of sixty years their recollections of him are of the most vivid 
character. His dress, appearance, conversation, manner of preaching, texts, are as fresh 
in their minds as things of yesterday. And with a singular unanimity they agree in the 
following description of him. He was of the middle size, and strongly built. His coun- 
tenance had a pensive, placid cast, but when excited was exceedingly expressive of reso- 
lution and energy. His voice was sweet and pleasant, but at the same time so strong, 
that he could make himself heard above the notes of the drum and the fife. As a 
preacher he was uncommonly eloquent and pathetic, rarely preaching without weeping 
himself ; and at times he would melt his whole audience into tears. He was among 
the most active of men, and seemed never wearied by any amount of bodily or mental 
labor. Feelings of the most glowing patriotism and of the most fervent piety possessed 
his bosom at the same time, without the one interfering with the other. He was one 
day preaching to the battalion — the next marching with them to battle, and, if defeated, 
assisting to conduct their retreat — and the next administering the consolations of the 
gospel to some dying parishioner. His people were most ardently attached to him, and 
the army adored him. Let his name be held in perpetual remembrance. 

He was shot by a man called Morgan, who was tried and found guilty of murder. It 
was proved on his trial that he was bribed to the murderous deed. He was hung, giv- 
ing signs of the most obdurate villany to the last. The day of his execution was in- 
tensely cold ; and a little delay taking place under the gallows, he thus addressed the 
executioner with an oath : " Do your duty, and don't keep me here shivering in the 
cold !" The place of his execution is about half a mile north of the church in West- 
field, and is called Morgan's Hill to this day. 

Mr. Caldwell left behind him nine children, all young, with but little provision to sus- 
tain or educate them. But the Lord took them up, and raised up friends to protect and 
educate them. They all lived, not only to become members of the church of Christ, 
but to fill places of distinguished honor and usefulness. And down to the present day 
the rain and dew of the Spirit are descending upon the third and fourth generations of 
his offspring. 

Margaret, the oldest child, became the wife of Isaac Canfield, of Morristown, and was 
long known as a mother in Israel. 

Hannah became the wife of James R. Smith, for many years a distinguished mer- 
chant of New York, and subsequently the wife of Dr. Rogers. 

John E. was taken by La Fayette to France, where he was educated. For many 
years he was a distinguished philanthropist of New York ; was the editor of the Chris- 
tian Herald, one of the first religious periodicals of the country, and did as much as any 
other man in laying the foundation of the American Bible Society. 

James B. was for many years a judge of the courts of Gloucester co., and died in 
Woodbury. 

Esther became the wife of the late Rev. Dr. Finley, of Baskenridge, afterwards the 
president of Athens College, Georgia, whom she yet survives. 

Josiah F. is now a resident of Washington city, and an officer in the general post- 
office. 

Elias B. was for some years the clerk of the supreme court of the United States, and 
because of his distinguished efforts in the cause of colonization, one of the towns of Li- 
beria in Africa is called Caldwell in honor of him. 

Sarah became the wife of the Rev. John S. Vredenburgh, for many years a useful and 
beloved pastor of the Reformed Dutch church of Somerville. 

Maria, who lay in her mother's bosom when she was shot, married Robert S. Robin- 
son, of New York, who, with her husband, still survives. 



170 ESSEX COUNTY. 

The following historical items are embodied in a petition pre- 
sented to Congress in 1840, by the Trustees of the First Presby- 
terian Church, praying for indemnification for property destroyed 
in the Revolutionary War. 

The church of which we are now the ecclesiastical and corporate officers, is the old- 
est formed by the English in our State. It dates its origin from the year 1664, and 
was organized by our fathers soon after the settlement of our town. They, in the in- 
fancy of our community, erected a building for the worship of God, and dedicated it to 
that holy purpose ; and for nearly fifty years it was here the only temple consecrated to 
the service of Jehovah. Considering the time and circumstances of its erection, it was 
large and commodious. As the population increased, it was enlarged by an addition ot 
20 feet in 1760 ; when it was a substantial building, with galleries, a high steeple, a 
bell, and a town clock. And as this was the chief town for many years in the province, 
it was always kept with great neatness, and in a fine state of repair. 

On the first settlement of our town, a large town-lot was set apart for the use of the 
pastor, on which our fathers early erected a parsonage-house as a residence for their 
successive ministers. It was a long building, a story and a half high, and ample for 
the accommodation of a large family. It was, like the church, the public property of 
the congregation. 

Feeling a deep solicitude for the education of their children, our fathers, at a very 
early day in our history, here erected an academy. It was substantially built of wood, 
two stories high, and amply commodious for all the purposes of its erection. For 
many years it was the most celebrated institution of the kind west of the Hudson. In 
it a Burr, who once filled the chair of President in your Senate Chamber, and a Jona- 
than Dayton, who presided in the House of Representatives, an Aaron Ogden, a Ste- 
phen Van Rensselaer, and others not unknown to your council chambers, nor to their 
country, received the first rudiments of their education. In that academy were laid the 
foundations of the College of N. Jersey, now located in Princeton ; and within its walls 
President Jonathan Dickenson taught the first classes ever connected with that institu- 
tion. This also was the property, and was under the supervision of the trustees of our 
church. 

When the glorious war of our Revolution commenced, which resulted in our inde- 
pendence, these buildings were all standing and in good repair, and each devoted to the 
purposes of its erection. The Rev. James Caldwell was then the pastor of this church. 
His name and his fame are interwoven with the history of his country, and are as dear 
to the state as to the church of God. Influenced not less by his sense of our wrongs, 
than by the impulses of his vigorous mind and glowing enthusiasm, he became early 
and deeply interested in the conflict, and devoted all his powers no less to the freedom 
of his country than to the service of his God. Such was his influence over his people, 
that, with few exceptions, they became one with him in sentiment and feeling ; and 
thenceforward he and they were branded as the rebel parson and parish. To the ene- 
mies of his country he was an object of the deepest hatred ; and such was their known 
thirst for his life, that, while preaching the gospel of peace to his people, he was com- 
pelled to lay his loaded pistols by his side in the pulpit. To avoid their vigilance and 
violence, he was compelled to desert his own home, with his large family of nine children, 
and to seek a temporary residence in the interior. The parsonage thus vacated by him 
became the resting-place of our soldiers. And to deprive them of its shelter, and to vent a 
rankling enmity toward its rightful occupant, it was fired and burnt by the enemy. 

The church in which our fathers worshipped God, also became the resting-place of 
our soldiers on several occasions. There they lodged after the labors of the day, while 
its steeple was their watch-tower, and its bell pealed forth in quick succession the notes 
of alarm on the approach of danger. And for the purpose of depriving them of its 
shelter, and out of enmity to the patriotic and eloquent occupant of its pulpit, it was 
reduced to ashes by the enemy, on the night of the 25th of January, 1780. 

At the sound of the tocsin of war our academy was deserted. At their country's 
call, its scholars ran from their masters, and with them to the rescue ; and it was con- 
verted into a storehouse for the provisions of the American army. This, also, after 
plundering it of its provisions, was reduced to ashes by the enemy, who immediately 
retreated to their camp on Staten Island, carrying the beef and pork taken on the tops 
of their bayonets. 

As a people, we suffered as much in the loss of our citizens in battle as any town of 
the same population in this land. The blood of our fathers and brothers and neighbors 



ESSEX COUNTY. 171 

mingles with the soil of Flatbush, and Monmouth, and Princeton, and Trenton, and 
Brandywine, and Germantown. But for their sufferings and blood, we feel amply re- 
paid in the possession of that broad inheritance of civil and religious liberty which they 
so dearly purchased for us. 

As a congregation, we contributed our fair proportion to the civil and military service 
of the Revolution. To the army we gave a Dayton, father and son, a Spencer, 
an Ogden, and, as chaplain and commissary, our beloved Caldwell. To the state 
and national councils we gave a Boudinot, a Livingston, a Clarke, a Dayton, an Og- 
den. Where in our land is there another congregation which has made a like contri- 
bution? And we feel not merely proud, but thankful to God, that we were enabled to 
send such men to the field and to the cabinet in the day of darkness and peril, when 
wisdom to direct was as necessary as valor to execute. 

Owing to our vicinity to Staten Island and New York city, the grand depots of the 
enemy, we suffered very much as a people from midnight alarms and plunder, from the 
burning of our houses and property, and from the taking of our citizens from their beds 
and fields as prisoners, and incarcerating them in the famous sugar-house in New 
York. But these things we regard as necessarily incidental to the great contest ; and 
a few old Romans there are yet among us who remember the cup of wormwood, but 
who yet rejoice in sufferings that have resulted so gloriously. 

For these things we ask no remuneration. Congress could grant us no equivalent. 
We would not sell the laurels we have won in the Revolutionary contest for the public 
domain. We mention these things merely to show you the amount of our contribution 
to the wisdom, and valor, and firmness, and suffering, which achieved our glorious in- 
dependence. 

All that we desire now from our country is a compensation for our public property 
destroyed ; and destroyed because of being converted to public purposes for the benefit 
of the American army. And the evidence that our parsonage, and church, and acad- 
emy, were so used, is hereby respectfully submitted with this our memorial. 

And such is our sense of honor, that we do not wish to draw from the national 
treasury the small compensation hereby solicited, unless it is considered rightfully our 
due. NICHOLAS MURRAY, Pastor. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard of the First Presbyterian church : 

Here lies the body of the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Dickenson, Pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church in Elizabeth Town, who died 7th October, 1747, a?tatis sua? 60. 
Deep was the wound, O Death, and vastly wide, 
When he resign'd his useful breath, and died. 
Ye sacred tribes, with pious sorrows mourn, 
And drop a tear at your great pastor's urn ! 
Conceal'd a moment from our longing eyes, 
Beneath this stone his mortal body lies ; 
Happy the spirit lives, and will, we trust, 
In bliss associate with his pious dust. 



Sacred to the memory of the Rev. James Caldwell and Hannah his wife, who fell 

victims to their country's cause in the years 1780 and 1781. He was the zealous and 

faithful pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this town, where, by his evangelical labors 
in the gospel vineyard, and his early attachment to the civil liberties of his country, he 
has left in the hearts of his people a better monument than brass or marble. 

Stop, Passenger ! 

Here also lie the remains of a woman, who exhibited to the world a bright constella- 
tion of the female virtues. On that memorable day, never to be forgotten, when a Brit- 
ish foe invaded this fair village, and fired even the temple of the Deity, this peaceful 
daughter of Heaven retired to her hallowed apartment, imploring Heaven for the pardon 
of her enemies. In that sacred moment, she was, by the bloody hand of a British ruf- 
fian, dispatched, like her divine Redeemer, through a path of blood, to her long-wished- 
for native skies. 



Sacred to the memory of General Matthias Ogden, who died on the 31st day of 
March, 1791, aged 36 years. In him were united those various virtues of the soldier, 
the patriot, and the friend, which endear men to society. Distress failed not to find re- 
lief in his bounty ; unfortunate men, a refuge in his generosity. 



172 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



If manly sense and dignity of mind, 
If social virtues, liberal and refined, 
Nipp'd in their bloom, deserve compassion's tear, 
Then, reader, weep ; for Ogden's dust lies here. 
Weed his grave clean, ye men of genius, for he was your kinsman, 
his ashes, ye men of feeling, for he was your brother. 



Tread lightly on 



In memory of Maria, wife of Doct. Paul Micheau, who departed this life August 
15th, 1793, aged 20 years, 9 mos. and 18 days. 



Closed are those eyes in endless night, 
No more to beam with fond delight, 

Or with affection roll ; 
Eternal silence seals that tongue 
Where sense and soft persuasion hung, 

To captivate the soul. 

Oh, she was all that thought could paint, 
The mortal rising to the saint, 

In every deed of life. 
At once, the fatal arrows end 
The fondest child, the kindest friend, 

And most endearing wife. 



Fair as the break of op'ning day, 
Calm as the summer's evening ray, 

Truth, virtue was her guide. 
When sister spirits call'd her hence, 
Obedience bow'd at life's expense, 

She sigh'd, she sunk, she died ! 

Immortal saint ! supremely bright ! 
Look down through skies of purest light, 

And bid affliction cease. 
Oh, smooth thy husband's lonely bed, 
In visions hover round his head, 

And hush his mind to peace. 



Sacred to the memory of Gen. William Crane, who died July 30th, 1814, aged 67 
years, — one of the firmest patriots of the Revolution. In the darkest period of his 
country's oppression and danger, he volunteered in her cause, and was wounded in her 
defence. Probity, benevolence, and patriotism characterized his life. He lived be- 
loved, and died lamented. His sons have caused this monument, a faint tribute of 

gratitude and affection, to be erected over his grave. 



In memory of Shepherd Kollock, Esq., an officer of the Revolution, who, after hav- 
ing aided in the establishment of the liberty of his country, and for many years filled 
with usefulness various civil stations, died in the full assurance of a glorious resurrec- 
tion and blessed immortality, July 28th, 1839 ; aged 88 years. 

The two following inscriptions were copied from monuments in 
the graveyard of the Episcopal church : 

Here lieth the body of Peter Sonmans, Esq., one of ye Proprietors of this Province, 
who departed this life the 26th day of March, Annoque Domini 1734, in the 67th year 
of his age. 



Sacred to the memory of John Chetwood, M. D., who died of cholera on the 13th of 
August, 1832, in the 64th year of his age. He fell a victim to that untiring benevo- 
lence which for more than 40 years marked his professional course. The meridian sun 
found him administering to the suffering poor ; its next morning beams fell upon Ins 
grave. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." 



LIVINGSTON. 

Livingston was formed a township in 1812. It is 5 miles long, 
and 4| wide ; bounded N. by Caldwell, E. by Orange, S. by Spring- 
field, and W. by Chatham and Hanover, in Morris co. The sur- 
face on the east is mountainous, elsewhere hilly, except on Passaic 
river, which forms its western boundary. There are in the town- 
ship 3 stores, 1 saw-mill; cap. in manufac. $9,515; 5 schools, 158 
scholars. Pop. 1,081. Livingston, 10 miles west of Newark, 
Centerville, Squiretown, and Northfield, are small settlements, at 
the latter of which is a Baptist church. 



ESSEX COUNTY 173 

NEWARK. 

The town of Newark was settled in the month of May, 1666, 
by emigrants from Connecticut. The first English settlement this 
side the Hudson was commenced at Elizabethtown in 1664, two 
years previous. In August of the following year, Governor Car- 
teret arrived, and sent agents into New England to publish the 
" concessions" or terms of the proprietors, and to invite settlers to 
the new colony. These terms were liberal ; and early in the suc- 
ceeding year (1666) agents were dispatched from Guilford, Bran- 
ford, and Milford, in Connecticut, to view the country, and to learn 
more particularly the terms of purchase, as well as the state of the 
Indians in the vicinity. They returned with a favorable report ; 
especially of the district " beyond the marshes, lying to the north 
of Elizabethtown ;" and were forthwith sent back with power to 
bargain for a township, to select a proper site for a town, and to 
make arrangements for an immediate settlement. To the good 
judgment of these individuals, who were Captain Robert Treat, 
John Curtis, Jasper Crane, and John Treat, are we indebted for 
the plan of our town — our wide main streets, (the only ones then 
laid out,) and .the beauty and extent of our public squares. 

These preliminaries being arranged, thirty families from the 
above towns, and New Haven, embarked under the guidance of 
the exploring agents, and after a passage as long and tedious as a 
voyage at this time across the Atlantic, arrived in the Passaic 
river early in the month of May. At this point, however, their 
progress was impeded. The Hackensack tribe of Indians, who 
claimed the soil granted to the agents of the emigrants by the 
governor, met them here, and opposed their landing, until full 
compensation should be made to them. 

The manner in which this difficulty was disposed of, is set forth 
at large in an affidavit by Capt. Robt. Treat, dated March 13th, 
1687, which we find among the documents accompanying the long 
" Bill in the Chancery of New Jersey," filed in April, 1746, by 
James Alexander, at the suit of John Earl of Stair, and other 
claimants under Carteret and Berkely, against certain settlers in 
Elizabethtown, for the recovery of the lands in that vicinity. 
This bill* recites at great length the history of the English settle- 
ments in East Jersey. The affidavit — which may be found on 
page 118 of the bill — contains the following interesting narrative. 
After setting forth that he was then, at the date of the affidavit, 
" about 64 years of age," and was " one of the company that first 
settled at Newark," Capt. Treat proceeds: — 

" That from my discourse and treatise with the governor, I expected that he would 
have cleared the plantation from all claims and incumbrances, and given quiet posses- 
sion, which he had promised to do ; but no sooner were we on the place, and landed 

* Commonly called " the long bill in Chancery." It was printed in folio form, in the 
city of New York, in 1747, by James Parker, and with its appendix, comprising a great 
variety of valuable documents concerning the first settlement of East Jersey, makes a 
volume of 150 pages. 



174 ESSEX COUNTY. 

some of our goods, when I and some others were warned off the ground by the Hack. 
ensack Indians, who seemed angry that we had landed any of our goods, although we 
told them we had the governor's orders ; but they replied the land was theirs, and that 
it was unpurchased ; thereupon we put our goods on board the vessel again, and ac- 
quainted the governor with the matter, and he could not say it was bought of the In- 
dians. I and most of the company were minded to depart, but the governor, with 
other gentlemen, were loath to let us go, and advised and encouraged us to go to the In- 
dians, and directed us to one John Capteen, a Dutchman, that was a good interpreter, 
to go with us ; and I with some others and said Capteen went to Hackensack to treat 
with the Sagamores and other Indian proprietors of the land lying on the west side of 
Passaic river, about purchasing said lands ; and one Perro (an Indian) laid claim to said 
Passaic lands which is now called Newark ; and the result of our treaty was, that we 
obtained of a body of said Indians to give us a meeting at Passaic, and soon after they 
came, all the proprietors, viz., Perro and his kindred, with the Sagamores that were able 
to travel ; Oraton, being very old, but approved of Perro's acting. And at that meeting 
with the Indian proprietors, we did agree and bargain with the said Indians for a tract 
of their said land on the west side of Passaic river to a place called the Cove, by the 
said governor's order and allowance, and upon information thereof he seemed glad of 
it; and I with some others solicited the governor to pay for the purchase to the Indians ; 
which he refused, and would not disburse any thing unless I would reimburse him again ; 
and a bill of sale was made, wherein the purchase of said land will appear, and I can 
and do testify that the said Indians were duly paid for it according to the bill wherein 
we became debtors to the Indians, and not to the governor, as I judge, and Perro af- 
firmed that he had not sold his land to any before this time. " 

This tract, thus purchased of the Indians, is more particularly 
described in a certificate from Samuel Edsal, who appears to have 
been one of the negotiators, dated March 5th, 1687, which we 
find on page 117 of the same " Bill in Chancery." In this certifi- 
cate the writer sets forth the purchase to be a " parcel of land 
lying and being on the west side of the Kill Van Coll, beginning 
at the mouth of a certain creek named Waweayack, (Bound 
creek,) upon the bay side ; and from thence running up the said 
creek to the head of a cove, and from thence westward to the 
foot of the (Newark) Mountain, called by the Indians Watchung ; 
thence running along the said foot of the mountain, until it meets 
by an east line with a small river coming from the hills into Pas- 
saic river, named Jantucuck, (3d river,) from thence running down 
Passaic river, and Arthur Kull Bay, till it meets with the mouth 
of Waweayack, as above said." 

These limits formed the original township of Newark, compre- 
hending the present township of that name, and the townships of 
Springfield, Livingston, Orange, Bloomfield, and Caldwell. The 
price of this purchase was 130/. New England currency, 12 Indian 
blankets, and 12 Indian guns. 

It must be satisfactory to every townsman thus to know that 
every foot of land lying within our bounds was honestly and open- 
ly purchased of its original proprietors. However unjustly the 
aborigines may have been dealt with elsewhere, no act of our an- 
cestors can be pointed to with the slightest reproach by the most 
jealous advocate of Indian rights. 

The settlers first located themselves according to the towns 
whence they came, in separate neighborhoods ; but the sense of 
mutual danger soon induced a change in this respect. On the 21st 
of May, 1666, delegates from the several towns resolved to form 



ESSEX COUNTY. 175 

one township, to provide rules for its government, and " to be of 
one heart and hand, in endeavoring to carry on their spiritual con- 
cernments, as well as their civil and town affairs, according to 
God and godly government." And for the more speedy accom- 
plishment of their desires, " a committee of eleven were appoint- 
ed to order and settle the concernments of the people of the place." 
This committee consisted of Capt. Robert Treat, Lt. Samuel 
Swain, Samuel Kitchell, Michael Tompkins, Morris Say, Richard 
Beckly, Richard Harrison, Thomas Blatchly, Ed. Rigs, Stephen 
Freeman, and Thomas Johnson. The articles of government 
which they formed, possessed a full portion of the strict religious 
spirit of the people. " No person could become a freeman or bur- 
gess of their town, or vote in its elections, but such as was a 
member of some one of the Congregational churches : nor be 
chosen to the magistracy, nor to any other military or civil office." 
" But all others admitted to be planters, were allowed to inherit 
and to enjoy all other privileges, save those above excepted." 
Disregarding the right of the English proprietors of New Jersey, 
and apparently with a resolution of disclaiming all fealty towards 
them, and of depending on their Indian grants, they also resolved 
" to be ruled by such officers as the town should annually choose 
from among themselves, and to be governed by the same laws as 
they had, in the places from whence they came." 

In Nov. of this year, ' ; many of the inhabitants of Branford" 
appear to have joined their associates in the enterprise. The fol- 
lowing document, which we copy from the town records, appears 
to have been signed by them on this occasion, and to have been 
subsequently endorsed (in June, 1667) by the other male settlers, 
It will be seen by this document that in June, 1667, the whole pop- 
ulation of the town consisted of sixty-five efficient men, "besides 
women and children." 

• October 30th, 1665. 

' At a Meeting Touching the Intended design of many of the Inhabitants of Brand. 
■pv . • 1 o ford, the following was subscribed : 

F d xv"i 21* ' ^ st ' T nat None shall be Admitted freemen or free Burgesses within 
Deut' xvii 15' our Town, upon Passaick River, in the Province of New Jersey, but 
Jer xxxvi 21* SUC ^ P' anters as are Members of some or other of the Congregational 
Churches ; nor shall any but such be Chosen to Magistracy or to Carry 
on any part of Civil Judicature, or as deputies or assistants to have power to Vote in 
Establishing Laws, and making or repealing them, or to any Chief Military Trust or 
office. Nor shall any But such Church Members have any vote in any such Elections ; 
Tho' all others admitted to Be planters have Right to their proper Inheritances, and do 
and shall Enjoy all other Civil Liberties and priviledges, According to Laws, orders, 
Grants, which are or Hereafter shall Be Made for this Town. 

' P. 2d. We shall with Care and Diligence provide for the maintenance of the purity 
of Religion professed in the Congregational Churches. Whereunto subscribed the In- 
habitants from Brandford — 

Jasper Crane, Josiah Ward, Delivered Crane, Richard Johnson, 

Abraham Pierson, John Ward, senior, Aaron Blatchly, Ebenezer Canfield, 

Samuel Swaine, Ed. Ball, Samuel Rose, Richard Lauiance, 

Laurance Ward, John Harrison, Thomas Pierson, John Johnson, 

Thomas Blatchly, John Crane, John Warde, Thomas L. Lyon, 

Samuel Plum, Thomas Huntington, John Catling, (his mark.) 



176 ESSEX COUNTY. 

' And upon the Reception of their Letters and Subscriptions, the present Inhabitants 
in November following, declare their Consents and readiness to do likewise, and at a 
Meeting the 24th of the next June following, in 1667, they also subscribed with their own 
Hands unto the two fundamental Agreements expressed on the other side. Their names 
as follows : 

Robert Treatt, Edward Rigs, George Day, Hauns Albers, 

Obadiah Bruen, Robert Kitchell, Thomas Johnson, Thomas Morris, 

Matthew Camfield, J. Brooks, (mark J. B.) John Curtis, Hugh Roberts, 

Samuel Kitchell, Robert Lymens, Ephraim Burwell, Ephraim Pennington, 

Jeremiah Pecke, (mark V.) Robert Denison, Martin Tichenor, 

Michael Tompkins, Francis Links, (by his mark R.) John Browne, jun., 

Stephen Freeman, (mark F.) Nathaniel Wheeler, Jonathan Seargeant, 

Henry Lyon, Daniel Tichenor, Zachariah Burwell, Azariah Crane, 

John Browne, John Bauldwin, sen., William Campe, Samuel Lyon, 

John Rodgers, John Bauldwin, jun., Joseph Walters, Joseph Riggs, 

Stephen Davis, Jonathan Tomkins, Robert Daglesh, Stephen Bond. 

It will be perceived by these names, comprising the whole 
number, that a great majority of the original settlers of the town 
are still represented by a numerous posterity, as may be seen by 
consulting the Directory. 

At the first distribution of land, each man took by lot six 
acres, as a ho?nestead ; and as the families from each of the several 
original towns had established themselves at short distances from 
those of other towns, the allotments were made to them in their 
respective quarters of the new settlement. Seven individuals, se- 
lected for the purpose, assessed on each settler his portion of the 
general purchase-money. The lands were eventually divided into 
three ranges ; each range into lots, and parcelled by lottery — first 
.setting apart certain portions, called tradesmen's lots ; one of which 
was to be given to the first of every trade who should settle per- 
manently in the place — reserving also the present Upper Green 
of the town, (now Washington-square.) for a market-place, and 
the Lower Green, (now called the Park,) for a military parade ; and 
that part of the town in and adjacent to Market-st., where the tan- 
neries now are, (then a swamp,) for a public watering-place for 
cattle. This last portion, having been sold by the town, is alto- 
gether in possession of individual owners. 

In 1667, the Rev. Abraham Pierson, the first minister, com- 
menced his official duties here. He is said to have been " episco- 
pally ordained," at Newark, in South Britain, and to have named 
this town after that of his ordination ; by which name it was some- 
times called abroad, but was known at others by that of Milford. 
In the next year, the first " meeting-house," 26 feet wide, 34 long, 
and 13 between the joists, was erected; the town voting thirty 
pounds, and directing that every individual should perform such 
labor as a committee of five might require, toward its completion. 
It was a small frame building, and stood near the centre of the 
town, fronting on Broad-st., on the lot now known as the old town 
burying-ground, opposite to the present building of the First Pres- 
byterian church. Mr. Pierson emigrated to the new world in 1655, 
and, with a few followers, settled in or near Guilford, Conn. He 
was one of those who were dissatisfied with the corrupt and arbi- 



ESSEX COUNTY. 177 

trary character of church and state in England, and annexed him- 
self to the party then called moderate Presbyterians. He was an 
old man when the colony settled Newark, and appears to have 
been eminent for his learning, wisdom, and piety. His salary 
was fixed at £30. 

Arrangements for the " meeting-house" having been completed, 
the town meeting next appointed Henry Lyon to keep a tavern, for 
the entertainment of travellers and strangers, and instructed him 
" to prepare for it as soon as he can." At the same meeting, in 
the year 16G8, Robert Treat and Sergeant Richard Harrison were 
appointed to erect a " grist-mill on the brook at the north end of 
the town ;" setting apart the second and sixth days of the week as 
grinding days. John Rockwell, of Elizabethtown, was at the 
same time voted a member of the community, upon condition " of 
his moving here forthwith, and maintaining his present or other 
sufficient boat, for the use of the town." 

Robert Treat and Jasper Crane were chosen the first magis- 
trates, in 1668, and representatives to the first assembly of New 
Jersey, convened at Elizabethtown, 26th May of the same year ; 
by which the first state-tax (£12 sterling, of which the proportion 
of Newark was 40 shillings) was laid.* Mr. Treat was also 
chosen first recorder, or town-clerk ; and after a residence here of 
many years, returned to Connecticut, where he became governor, 
and died. The town also established a court of judicature, holding 
annually one session, on the last Wednesday of February, and an- 
other on the second Wednesday of September ; having cognizance 
of all causes within its limits. On the 24th May, 1669, the first 
selectmen,; five in number, were chosen. The number was subse- 
quently increased to seven, who continued to administer affairs un- 
til 1736, when the present township officers were created by law. 
And in this year Indian hostility appears to have displayed itself 
in petty robberies and depredations, the increase of which, in 1675, 
induced the townsmen to fortify their church, as a place of refuge, 
in case of general attack ; and to take proper measures of watch 
and ward. 

About this period the Rev. Mr. Pierson had become so infirm, 
that the town made out a call to his son, Abraham Pierson, Jun., 
to become his colleague. He had been educated at Cambridge, 
and was distinguished for his talents and accomplishments, but 
had neither the meekness nor prudence of his father. He contin- 
ued here only a few years after his father's death, which occurred 
in 1680, but removed to Killingworth, Conn., where he died in 1708. 
His reputation for learning was so high, that he was chosen the 
first president of the College of Connecticut, (now Yale College.) 
on its institution in 1701. Mr. Pierson was succeeded in the pas- 

* This assembly consisted of seven in council, besides the governor, and ten burgesses ; 
two from Bergen, two from Newark, two from Elizabethtown, two from Woodbridge, 
and two from Middletown and Shrewsbury. 

23 



178 ESSEX COUNTY. 

toral office at Newark by Mr. John Prudden, who finally relin- 
quished it, after serving twelve or thirteen years, in favor of Mr. 
Jabez Wakeman, a young man of distinguished attainments. Mr. 
W. died in 1704, and was succeeded by Mr. Nathaniel Bowers. 

The year 1676 was distinguished by the establishment of the 
first school; and the selectmen "agreed with Mr. John Catlin to 
instruct their children and servants in as much English reading, 
writing, and arithmetic as he could teach. " Mr. Catlin was also 
chosen attorney for the town, and appears to have been the first 
lawyer settled here. About the same time, measures were taken 
to invite mechanics to the place. The first shoemaker appears to 
have been Samuel Whitehead, of Elizabethtown, who was form- 
ally admitted a member of the community, on condition of his 
supplying it with shoes. The first tannery was established in 1698, 
at the " swamp or watering-place." 

The town appears to have been early celebrated for its cider. 
Gov. Carteret writes to the proprietors in England, in 1682: — "At 
Newark are made great quantities of cider, exceeding any we 
can have from New England, Rhode Island, or Long Island," 
which is the first mention we find of this famous article. The 
governor also speaks of the place at this time, as a compact town 
of about one hundred families, and that it is the only place in the 
province provided with a settled preacher, following no other em- 
ployment. The town appears also to have obtained the character 
abroad of being an unhealthy place, subject to fever and agues 
and intermittents, which is supposed to have retarded its growth. 
During the ministry of Mr. Bowers, a new and larger church 
was agreed upon The walls were put up in 1708, a few steps 
north of the first building on the same lot. This was a heavy un- 
dertaking, much beyond the means of the people. Although the 
place had been settled forty years, it is said that when the walls 
were knee high, the whole population, men, women, and children, 
" could have sat upon them." The interior was not entirely fin- 
ished within thirty years. It is said to have been the most ele- 
gant edifice at that time in the colony. 

On the 23d October, 1676, a warrant was granted by the gover- 
nor, for 200 acres of land and meadow, for parsonage-ground, and 
also for so much as was necessary for landing-places, school-house, 
town-house, market-place, &c; and in 1696, a patent from the 
proprietaries to the town covered all the lots, in various parts of 
the township, called " Parsonage Lands ;" which have been since 
divided, with some difficulty and contention, among five churches, 
viz.: three of the Presbyterian, and the Episcopal, at Newark, and 
the First Presbyterian church at Orange. 

The London Church Missionary Society, about the year 1732, 
sent out a number of missionaries, some of whom settled at Eliza- 
bethtown, and other places in tne neighborhood of Newark, where 
they occasionally preached. This gave rise to serious contentions 
among the colonists on the subject of church government. In this 



ESSEX COUNTY. 179 

town a few of the leading individuals declared themselves dissat- 
isfied with the Presbyterian form, and in favor of the Episcopal 
mode, as practised in South Britain. During this controversy, 
which occurred under the ministry of Mr. Joseph Webb, the im- 
mediate successor of Mr. Bowers, the present Episcopal church 
was instituted. The church appears to have originated in 1734, 
with Col. Josiah Ogden and others, who took occasion to leave the 
Presbyterians, in consequence of the rigor with which he was 
treated for saving his grain in a wet harvest on the Sabbath. The 
present church edifice was built in 1808, on the site of the original 
building. 

Mr. Webb was dismissed in 1736. The Presbyterian church 
then called the Rev. Aaron Burr, the father of the late Vice Presi- 
dent of the United States, who was subsequently born in the town. 
Mr. Burr was distinguished as an eminent scholar and divine, and 
enjoyed reputation abroad as well as at home. He established a 
Latin school soon after his settlement here, and the town in his 
time, we are told, " flourished exceedingly in trade, manufactures, 
and agriculture ; growing in wealth, population, and respectability, 
far beyond any thing which it had before attained." 

In 1721, the first freestone was quarried for market; and this 
article, celebrated for its excellent quality, has long been a subject 
of export. 

During the years 1745, '6, and '7, a great excitement existed in 
the vicinity, arising out of contentions between the settlers and 
the English proprietors concerning the title to the lands. The set- 
tlers held under their Indian title, and refused to recognise any 
other. In 1745 and 'G, there were two great riots at Newark, in 
each of which the jail was broken open by large mobs, and the 
prisoners held by suits in favor of the English proprietors set at 
liberty. The same parties liberated other prisoners for the same 
cause, at Elizabethtown and Somerville. 

In the year 1746, the College of New Jersey (now located at Princeton) was insti- 
tuted at Elizabethtown, under the presidency of Jonathan Dickenson, who is reported to 
have been an eminent scholar. Mr. D. died the next year, and the trustees then con- 
fided the students to the care of Mr. Burr, at Newark, who thus became the second 
president of the college. Here the institution continued to flourish for eight years, at 
the expiration of which period the trustees determined to locate it permanently at 
Princeton. After much controversy between the trustees and the congregation, Mr. 
Burr's pastoral relation was dissolved in the winter of 1755, and in the October follow- 
ing he removed to Princeton with the college, where he died in September, 1767. The 
congregation continued without a pastor until 1759, when they united in a call to the 
Rev. Alexander McWhorter. Mr. McWhorter preached his first sermon here on the 
28th June of that year, and continued to preside over the church, with an intermission 
of one or two years, until his death in 1807 — a period of nearly half a century. It 
would hardly be just to the memory of this estimable and eminent man, not to add that 
his labors, as a minister and a citizen, contributed largely to the character and increase 
of the town. He stood foremost among the men who adorned the American church 
during the latter part of the last century, which is no mean praise. A marble slab in 
the wall at the right of the pulpit in the church, which was built chiefly through his in- 
strumentality, worthily commemorates his worth, and the gratitude of the people for 
whom and with whom he labored. In 1765 the first public library was established. 

At the commencement of the revolutionary war, the town was much divided upon 



180 ESSEX COUNTY. 

the questions agitating the country ; and on the Declaration of Independence by the 
state, several families, among whom was Mr. Brown, pastor of the Episcopal church, 
who had ministered from its foundation, joined the royalists in New York. From its 
vicinage to that stronghold of the enemy, the town suffered greatly by the visitations 
of regular troops and marauders. On the 22d of November, 1776, Gen. Washington 
entered Newark on his retreat through New Jersey, having crossed the Passaic by the 
Aquackanonck bridge, with a force of 3,500, comprising Beal's, Heard's, and part of 
Irvine's brigades. Here the troops remained encamped until the morning of the 28th, 
when Lord Comwallis entered the town from New York, and the American forces re- 
treated towards New Brunswick and the Delaware. Each army was thus for a season 
quartered upon the inhabitants of the town, and the British commander, in pursuing the 
Americans, left a strong guard behind, which remained here until after his discomfiture 
at Trenton. Foraging parties, and bands of plunderers in the garb of the enemy, kept 
the neighborhood in continual alarm through several years. On the night of the 25th 
of January, 1780, a regiment of 500 men, commanded by Colonel Lumm, came from 
New York, following the river on the ice, and burned the academy, then standing on 
the upper green. This was a stone building, two stories high, with apartments for the 
teacher. On the same night another British party, unknown to the first, fired the Pres- 
byterian church at Elizabethtown, the light from which alarmed the incendiaries at 
Newark, and caused their hasty retreat. They carried away with them Joseph Hedden, 
Esq., an active whig, who had zealously opposed their previous depredations ; dragging 
him from a sick-bed, and compelling him to follow, with no other than his night cloth- 
ing. The party returned by the route by which they came; and a soldier, more humane 
than his fellows, gave Mr. H. a blanket, a short time before they reached Paulus Hook. 
At this place Mr. H. was confined in a sugar-house, where he perished in a few days, 
in consequence of his sufferings that night. 

About this period, and during the war, the average population of the town was less 
than 1000. In the year 1777, there were only 141 dwelling-houses ; of which 38 were in 
that part of the town now comprised within the limits of the North Ward, 50 in the South 
Ward, 28 in the East Ward, and 25 in the West Ward. 

The present public bridge over the Passaic was originally built about the year 1792. 
Previous to the Revolution, and up to this period, the business on the river was chiefly 
transacted at Lowe and Camp's dock, now known as the stone dock, some hundred 
yards north of the old bridge. The first public road to New York communicated with 
Market-st., and led across the upland and meadow by a ferry near the bay. On the con- 
struction of the present causeway, the " old ferry road" was abandoned. 

The " Newark Academy" was established by an association in 1792 : it was subse- 
quently distinguished for many years as one of the largest and most prominent academic 
institutions in the country. 

Soon after the close of the war, arrrangements were made by the Presbyterians for the 
erection of another and better house of worship. The corner-stone of the First Presby- 
terian church was laid by Dr. McWhorter in 1787: on the first of January, 1791, it 
was opened for public worship. After the completion of this building, the old church 
was converted into a courthouse, for which purpose it was used until the erection, in' 
1807, of the building destroyed by fire during the summer of 1835. In 1801 the Rev. 
Edward D. Griffin, now president of Williams College, was associated with Dr. Mc- 
Whorter, as colleague. The entire charge of the congregation devolved upon Dr. G. at 
the death of this venerable divine, in 1808. He resigned the station in 1809, for a pro- 
fessorship at Andover, and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Richards, who removed to 
Auburn in 1823. The following year the church called the Rev. Win. T. Hamilton, who 
resigned in the fall of 1834, and was succeeded by the Rev. A. D. Eddy. The Second 
Presbyterian church was erected in 1808, and the Rev. Hooper Cumming installed its 
first pastor. He was succeeded by Dr. Griffing, who resigned the charge on being ap- 
pointed president of Williams College. The Rev. Philip C. Hay then became pastor of 
the church. After his resignation the Rev. Mr. Cheever was called to the station. In 
1824, the Third Presbyterian church was organized, under the Rev. J. T. Russell, who 
was succeeded by the Rev. Baxter Dickinson. Mr. D. resigned the charge in 1835, for 
a professorship in Lane Seminary, (Cincinnati,) and the congregation soon after made out 
a call to Mr. Selah B. Treat, of Connecticut. The Fourth Presbyterian church was in- 
stituted in the year 1831. A fifth Presbyterian church, known as the 1st Free church, 
was organized during the year 1834. In 1836 a 2d Free (Presbyterian) church was or- 
ganized ; and in January of the present year another society, entitled The Central Pres- 
byterian church, was formed, and the Rev. C. Hoover, late of Morristown, installed its 
pastor. 



A PLAN OF THE PRINCIPAL PART OF BROAD ST., NEWARK, SHOWING THE BUILD. 
1NGS AND OCCUPAJNTS ABOUT THE YEAR 1796.* 



Episcopal Church. 

John Woods, Newark Gazette Office. . 
John Nesblt, Farmer. •■ 
P. Hill's residence, afterwards Rev. Dr. Ogden. ■ 
Mrs. Hatticld. 
Caleb Baldwin.... 
Caleb Sayres. - 
Jon. Sayres..— 

Academy. — 
Gilford cot, afterwards Wm. Tuttle- - 
W. Rodger's house and saddlery. — 
Thomas Jones' store- 
Jasper Tenbrook, house and store-— a 
9. Smith Burnet, watch store.- 1 
4. Pennington and Bruen's store..-; 
MARKET 
Jesse Baldwin, house and store.; 

Jabez Parkhurst. 

Josiah Congar's store 
5. Johnson Tuttle's tavern 




Episcopal Parsonage. 
Dr. Griffiths. 

— Robert Young. 



Poinier House, and carpenter's shop. 
G. Pintard, gentleman. 
Judge Elisha Boudiuot, 



1 E 



6. Old Presbyterian Church 



en.- — 
Old County Jail./'' 

Luther Goble, shoemaker.-.JE 
Major Samuel Sayres, tavern.. 

10. Rev. Dr. M'Whorter's parsonage.: 
7. Alex C. M'Whorter, lawyer. 



Jabez Bruen, shoemaker.' 
HILL ST. 
Peter Hill. 



Samuel Congar, weaver. - 

Matthias and Caleb Bruen, cabinet shop.- 

Caleb Bruen's residence.. 



Eleazar Brown.—] 



Benjamin Johnson. 1. 



| Dr. Uzal Johnson. 

|- Ogden Mansion. 
I-Gen. John N. Cummings. 2. 
L~Archer Gilford's stage-house and tavern 
ST. 

John Burnet, postmaster. 
•Obadiah Crane. 
rCol. Hay's house and store. 
-Office of the Sentinel of Freedom, by Pen- 
nington and Dodge. 
"New Presbyterian Church. 






•Joseph Banks, Hatter. 

•Josiah Beach, farmer and weaver. 



8. Hon. Peter J. Van Berckel ] 



Judge William Bumet. 3. 



/ E 



-Joseph Camp, farmer. 
"Capt. Nathaniel Camp. 

1. Afterwards used for several successive years as a post-office by Matth. Day. 

2. Gen. Cummings was a colonel in the Revolutionary army, and President of a bank in Newark, 
which was the first established in New Jersey. 

3. Judge Burnet was a distinguished surgeon in the Revolutionary army. 

4. William S. Pennington was Governor of New Jersey in 1813 : he was the father of Wm. Penning- 
ton, late Governor of the State. — John Alling's blacksmith shop was next to his store. 

5. Now Stewart's Hotel. 

6. The old Presbyterian Church, after the erection of the new one, was used as a court house, and the 
old court house as a jail. 

7. Now the Mansion House. 

8. Hon. Peter J. Van Berckel was minister plenipotentiary from Holland to the United States. 

9. Wm. Gardner's barber shop adjoined or was next to Smith Burnet's watch store. 

10. Col. Aaron Burr was born in this house. 

* This plan was submitted to the inspection of some of the oldest and most intelligent citizens of New. 

•uk, and U believed to be correct. 



182 ESSEX COUNTY. 

The Episcopal church was placed under the care of the Rev. Uzal Ogden soon after 
the war. After him came the Rev. Joseph Willard, Rev. Lewis P. Bayard, Rev. H. P. 
Powers, and the Rev. Matthew L. Henderson. In 1808 the church edifice was rebuilt. 

In 1801 the First Baptist church was constituted under the Rev. Charles Laliatt : a 
meeting-house was erected in 1804, and rebuilt in 1810. The following are the succeed- 
ing pastors of this church, viz. : Rev. Peter Thurston, installed in 1808 ; Rev. Daniel 
Sharp, in 1809 ; Rev. Job Lamb, in 1812 ; Rev. Ed. Jones, in 1814 ; Rev. Daniel Put- 
nam, in 1822 ; Rev. Ebenezer Loomis, in 1826 ; Rev. J. S. C. F. Frey, in 1828 ; Rev. 
P. L. Piatt, in 1830 ; Rev. Daniel Dodge, in 1832. A second Baptist church was or- 
ganized in 1833. 

The first Methodist Episcopal society was formed in 1806, by the Rev. David Bartine. 
The first chapel, in Halsey-st., was erected in 1810, at which time there were but thirty 
members, who enjoyed only such ministerial services as could be rendered by two preach- 
ers, whose sphere of duty embraced large portions of Essex, Bergen, and Morris coun- 
ties, including Staten Island, then known as " the Essex and Staten Island circuit." In 
1818 the Society was greatly increased, under the labors of the Rev. Joseph Lybrand, 
and from that time it has steadily progressed. It has since been under the pastoral care 
of the Rev. Messrs. Crcmer, Martindale, Thatcher, Lushing, Kennedy, Porter, Gelder, 
Higgins, Thompson, Matthias, and Atwood. 

A Dutch Reformed church was established in the year 1834, and the Rev. Ransford 
Wells elected pastor. The society have since built a large and elegant brick church in 
Market-st. A Catholic church was commenced in 1824, and completed the year follow- 
ing. The Primitive Methodists also have a church ; and there are 2 African churches. 
The Universalists formed a society a few years since. 

In 1804 the Newark Banking and Insurance Company was chartered, with a capital 
of $400,000 ; and this was for a number of years the only bank in this part of New 
Jersey.* 

Newark city, port of entry, and capital of Essex co., is situated 
9 m. from New York, and 49 from Trenton. It is on the west side 
of Passaic river, 3 m. from its entrance into Newark bay, and is 
the most populous and flourishing place in the state. The river is 
navigable to this place for vessels of 100 tons burden, and the New 
Jersey railroad and Morris canal pass through it. The Morris and 
Essex railroad commences here. The place is regularly laid out, 
the streets are several of them broad and straight, and many of 
the houses are neat and elegant. Two large public grounds in the 
heart of the city, bordered by lofty trees, add much to the beauty 
of the place. The city is abundantly supplied with pure water, 
brought by a company from a fine spring 2 m. distant. Several of 
the churches are handsome buildings. The courthouse is built of 
brown freestone, in a commanding situation in the west part of the 
city, and is a large and elegant building of Egyptian architecture. 

In 1843, there were 25 churches, viz. : 1st Presbyterian, A. D. 
Eddy pastor ; 2d Presbyterian, E. Cheever ; 3d Presbyterian, H. N. 
Brinsmade ; 4th Presbyterian, Wm. R. Weeks ; Central Presbyte- 
rian, Wm. Bradley ; Free Presbyterian, Wm. L. Parsons ; Associate 
Presbyterian ; Colored Presbyterian, S. E. Cornish ; 1st Methodist, 
J. B. McKeever ; 2d Methodist, Isaac Winner ; 3d Methodist, Wm. 
lloberts ; Primitive Methodist, Wm. Sanders; 1st African Method- 
ist, J. A. Williams ; Trinity, M. H. Henderson ; Grace, Anthony 
Ten Broeck ; Reformed Dutch, James Scott ; 1st Baptist, Wm. Sym ; 
2d Baptist ; Salem Baptist ; Christ-ian ; Bethel, Frederick Pilch ; 

* For the preceding historical sketch, the compilers are indebted to " Pierson's Direc- 
tory of Newark, for 1837-8." 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



183 



Universalist, Rev. Mr. Raynor ; 1st Roman Catholic, P. Moran ; 2d 
Roman Catholic, N. Balleis ; German, John F. Maschop. There 
are 3 banks, an apprentices' library, a circulating library, a me- 
chanics' association for scientific and literary improvement, and a 
young men's literary association. The commerce of Newark is 




Front View of the Courthouse, Newark. 

considerable and increasing. The coasting trade employs 65 ves- 
sels of 100 tons each. A whaling and sealing company, incorpora- 
ted in 1833, is prosecuting that business. The tonnage of this port 
in 1840, was 6,687. There were, in 1840, 2 foreign commercial,, 
and 2 commission stores, cap. $15,000; 114 retail stores, cap. 
$321,250; 6 lumber-yards, cap. $38,000; fisheries, cap. $60,000; 
precious metals, value produced, $154,312 ; manufactures of leather, 
cap. $285,951 ; 2 breweries, cap. $13,000 ; carriages, cap. $218,700; 

5 printing-offices, 2 binderies, 1 daily and 3 weekly newspapers, 
and 3 periodicals, cap. $32,300. Total cap. in manufac. $1,51 1,339. 

6 acad. 319 students; 30 schools, 1,955 scholars. Pop. in 1830, 
10,950; in 1840, 17,290. 

The following letter, giving an account of the outrages commit- 
ted by the British troops in 1777, was written by a highly respect- 
able inhabitant of this place to Mr. Wm. Gordon, of Roxbury,. 
Mass. It is dated at Newark, March 12th, 1777. 

The ravages committed by the British tyrant's troops in these parts of the country 
are beyond description. Their footsteps are marked with desolation and ruin of every 
kind. The murders, ravishments, robbery, and insults they were guilty of, are dreadful. 
When I returned to the town, it looked more like a scene of ruin, than a pleasant, well- 
cultivated village. One Thomas Hayes, as peaceable and inoffensive a man as in this 
state, was unprovokingly murdered by one of their negroes, who ran him through the 
body with his sword. He also cut and slashed his aged uncle in the same house in such 
a manner that he has not yet recovered of his wounds. Three women of the town were 
basely ravished by them, and one of them was a woman of near seventy years of age. 
Various others were assaulted by them, who happily escaped their lewd purposes. Yea, 
not only the common soldiers, but officers went about the town by night, in gangs, and 
forcibly entered into houses, openly inquiring for women. As to plundering, whig and 
tory were treated with a pretty equal hand, and those only escaped who were happy 
enough to procure a sentinel to be placed as a guard at their door. There was one Capt, 



184 ESSEX COUNTY. 

Nutman, who had always been a remarkable tory, and who met the British troops in the 
Broad street with huzzas of joy. He had his house robbed of almost every thing. His 
very shoes were taken off his feet, and they threatened hard to hang him. It was dili- 
gently circulated by the tories, before the enemy came, that all those who tarried in their 
houses would not be plundered, which induced some to stay, who otherwise would have 
saved many of their effects by removing them. But nothing was a greater falsehood 
than this, as the event proved : for none were more robbed than those that tarried at 
home with their families. 

Justice John Ogden, whom you know, had his house robbed of everything they could 
carry away. They ripped open his beds, scattered the feathers in the air, and took the 
ticks with them ; broke his desk to pieces, and destroyed a great number of important 
papers, deeds, wills, &c, belonging to himself and others ; and the more he entreated 
them to desist from such unprofitable and pernicious waste, the more outrageous they 
were. They hauled a sick son of his out of bed, whose life had been despaired of some 
time, and grossly abused him, threatening him with death in a variety of forms. The 
next neighbor to Mr. Ogden was one Benjamin Coe, a very aged man, who, with his 
wife, was at home. They plundered and destroyed every thing in the house, and insult- 
ed them with such rage, that the old people fled for fear of their lives ; and then, to show 
the fulness of their diabolical fury, they burnt their house to ashes. 

Zophar Beach, Josiah Beach, Samuel Pennington, and others, who had large families, 
and were all at home, they robbed in so egregious a manner, that they were scarcely left 
a rag of clothing, save what was on their backs. The mischief committed in the houses 
forsaken of their inhabitants, the destruction of fences, barns, stables, the breaking of 
chests of drawers, desks, tables, and other furniture, the burning and carrying away of 
carpenters' and shoemakers' tools, cannot be described. 

With respect to those who took protections and their oath, some of these they robbed 
and plundered afterwards ; but the most general way in which they obtained the effects 
of such people, was by bargaining with them for their hay, cattle, or corn, promising 
them pay, but none with us ever received any thing worth mentioning. I might have 
observed, that it was not only the common soldiers that plundered and stole, but also 
their officers ; and not merely low officers and subalterns, but some of high rank were 
abettors, and reaped the profits of their gallows-deserving business. No less a person 
than Gen. Erskinc, knight, had his room furnished from a neighboring house, with ma- 
hogany chairs and tables ; a considerable part of which was taken away with his bag- 
gage when he went to Elizabethtown. Col. M'Donald had his house furnished in the 
same felonious manner, and the furniture was carried off as though it had been part of 
his baggage. But there is no end of their inhuman conduct. They have not only 
proved themselves cruel enemies, but persons destitute of all honor ; and there is no 
hope of relief, but by expelling these murderers, robbers, and thieves from our country. 

The following account of the exploits of Capt. Littell (which appear 
to have taken place in the vicinity of Newark) is from " Garden's 
Anecdotes of the American Revolution." 

Capt. Littell, of New Jersey, was a partisan of great merit, and his personal appear- 
ance was remarkably fine and imposing. In the winter of 1776 and '77, Washington's 
successes at Trenton and Princeton gave a new turn to the war, and called into activity 
the partisan warfare, in which Capt. Littell was much distinguished. " On the day that 
the British force abandoned Newark, which they had occupied as a garrison, and marched 
to Elizabethtown, a company of Waldeckers was dispatched on some particular service 
towards the Connecticut Farms. Littell and his followers speedily discovered and fol- 
lowed them. Dividing his small force into two bodies, he placed one ambush in the rear, 
and appearing in front with the other, demanded an immediate surrender. The Ger- 
mans wished to retrograde, but meeting with the party expressly concealed to impede 
their retreat, and briskly assailed in front, surrendered without firing a gun. The Brit- 
ish general, exasperated by their capture, ordered out a body of Hessians to revenge the 
affront ; but the superior knowledge of Littell and his associates enabling them to goad 
the enemy at various points with spirited attacks, without any great degree of exposure, 
they were also driven into a swamp and compelled to surrender to inferior numbers. 
Mortified beyond measure at this second discomfiture, a troop of horse were ordered out ; 
but they in turn were routed, and were only more fortunate than those that preceded them, 
by being able, by the rapid movement of their horses, to escape pursuit. A tory, to whom 
a considerable reward was offered for the performance of the service, now led 300 men 



ESSEX COUNTY. 185 

to the house of Capt. Littell, who, believing he was securely pent up within, commenced 
a heavy discharge of musketry upon it from all sides. The captain, however, was not 
to be so easily entrapped ; and while they were making preparations to storm the deserted 
dwelling, they were attacked in the rear, being previously joined by another body of volun- 
teers, and driven with precipitation from the field. Littell, in the interim, with a part of 
his force, had formed an ambuscade along a fence side, and perceiving the enemy slowly 
approaching, levelled and discharged his piece, and the commander fell. The British, 
unable, from the darkness of the night, to make any calculation with regard to the num- 
ber of their opposers, were intimidated, and sought safety in flight." 

The following inscriptions, &c, are for the most part copied from 
Alden's Coll. American Epitaphs. The first, written by the Hon. 
William Peartree Smith, was copied from a tablet fixed in the front 
of the First Presbyterian church in Newark. The second, Dr. Mac- 
whorter's, was drawn by Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D., and 
placed in the wall of the church, at the right hand of the pulpit. 

jEdem hanc amplissimam cultui Divino dicatam ex animo religioso et munificentia 
valde praeclara Nov-Arce habitantes, cura sub pastorali rev. Alexandri Macwhorter, 
S. T. D., primum qui posuit saxum, construxerunt anno salutis, 1787; Amer. Reipub. 
Foederatffi 12. Auspicante Deo, longum perduret in ^evum. 

[To God infinitely good and great. This spacious edifice, consecrated to the ser- 
vice of God, the inhabitants of Newark, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Mac- 
whorter, who laid the corner-stone, with pious zeal and distinguished liberality, erected, 
in the year of our Lord, 1787, and of the independence of the United States of America, 
the twelfth. Through the good providence of God, long may it endure.] 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Alexander Macwhorter, D. D. In him a vener- 
able aspect and dignified manners were united with a strong and sagacious mind, richly 
stored with the treasures of ancient and modern learning. For a long course of years, 
he was among the most distinguished supporters of literature and religion in the Amer- 
ican church. He was a zealous assertor of his country's rights, a wise counsellor, a 
pious and skilful divine, a laborious, prudent, and faithful minister, and a great benefac- 
tor of the congregation over which he presided forty-eight years. To his influence and 
zeal the congregation is greatly indebted for this house of God, the foundation-stone of 
■which he laid, Sept., 1787. In gratitude for his distinguished services, and from an af- 
fectionate respect to his memory, the bereaved church have erected this monument. He 
was born 15th July, 1734. He departed this life 20th July, 1807, aged 73 years. The 
memory of the just is blessed. 

Mary, the wife of Isaac Ogden, Esq., here rested from the hurry of life, on the 15th of 

March, 1772, aged 26 years. 

Could the softness and elegance which adorned, — could the piety and benevolence 

which endeared human nature, — could tenderest friendship or purest love disarm the king 

of terrors, — she had not died. 

When every pain and every joy is o'er — 

When fortune, age, disease, can wound no more ; 

Virtues like hers with radiant lustre glow, 

And breathe refulgent through the clouds of wo : 

Kind spirits sooth the pangs of parting breath, 

And strew with softest down the bed of death. 



In memory of Hon. Peter I. Van Berckel, Esq., of Rotterdam, late minister pleni- 
potentiary from the states of Holland to the United States of America, who departed 
this fife 17th December, 1800, in the 77th year of his age. 

To the memory of William S. Pennington, who died the 1 7th day of September, A. D. 
1826, in the 69th year of his age. He sustained the office of governor and chancellor 
of the state of New Jersey, and various other important public stations, honorably to 
himself and usefully to his country. His bereaved children, in grateful remembrance of 
an affectionate and revered parent, have erected this memorial. 

Hoc marmore commemoratur — vir in sacris peritus, nee in Uteris humanis minus 
sciens : — Rebus divinis a prima setate deditus, — Fidei Christiana? strenuus assertor, — 

24 



186 ESSEX COUNTY. 

Et pietate nulli secundus. IMoribus facilis, vita beneficus, — Omnigense charitatis ex 
emplar : — Mille virtutibus instructus, quas sacra celavit modestia. 

Translation. — This marble is erected to the memory of a man imbued with sacred 
lore, and no less experienced in all human knowledge. From his earliest )'outh he was 
dedicated to holiness — a strenuous advocate of the Christian faith, and second to none 
in devotion. Of easy manners — humane in his conduct — an exemplar of every charity 
adorned with a thousand virtues which his modesty concealed. 



NEW PROVIDENCE. 

New Providence was formed from Springfield in 1809. It is 7 
miles long and 2 wide, bounded NE. by Springfield, SE. by West- 
field, S. by Warren, Somerset co., and NW. by Chatham and Mor- 
ris, in Morris eo. The surface is hilly, and in the eastern part 
mountainous. The Passaic river forms the western boundary. 
The township contains 4 stores, 1 paper fac, 1 saw-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. 816,700 ; 1 school, 25 scholars. Pop. 832. The princi- 
pal portion of the population is in the western part, where there is 
a village, about 12 miles SW. of Newark, containing 4 stores, a 
Presbyterian and a Methodist church. 



ORANGE. 

Orange is about 5 miles long, 3 wide ; bounded N. by Caldwell 
and Bloomfield, E. by Newark, S. by Clinton, and W. by Livings- 
ton. The surface on the west is mountainous, being crossed here 
by the First and Second mountains : the eastern part is rolling, and 
the soil well cultivated. Near the centre of the township is situ- 
ated the " Orange Mineral Spring," formerly a place of considera- 
ble resort. The Morris and Essex railroad passes through the 
township. Capital employed in manufactures, 876,750 ; 8 schools, 
330 scholars. Pop. 3,261. 

The village of Orange, 3^ miles NW. from Newark, is a settle- 
ment extending 2 or 3 miles on the turnpike, passing through the 
township in a westerly direction, and on the Morris and Essex rail- 
road. It contains 2 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist 
church, 10 stores, and about 200 dwellings. 

The annexed engraving shows the main entrance to the cemetery, 
about a mile from the village. The land for this purpose has an 
undulating surface, consisting of 10 acres, and was laid out in the 
autumn of 1840. The whole is designed to be arranged with 
walks, adorned by a variety of trees, shrubbery, and evergreens. 
These tokens of respect to the memor}* and ashes of the venerated 
dead are in accordance with the best feelings of our nature, and it 
is to be hoped that this laudable example will be more generally 
followed in other places. 

The village of South Orange lies on the turnpike from Newark 
to Morristown, 5 miles W. from Newark. It contains a Presbyte- 
rian church, and about 30 dwellings. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



187 




Entrance to the Orange Cemetery. 

ThvJ following inscriptions are from monuments in the old grave- 
yard, excepting the last two, which are from monuments in the 
Orange cemetery. 

Survivors, let's all imitate the virtues of our Pastor, 
And copy after him, like as he did his Lord and Master. 
To us most awful was the stroke, by which he was removed 
Unto the full fruition of the God he served and loved. 
Here lie the remains of the Rev. Mr. Daniel Taylor, who was minister of this parish 
— years. He deceased 8th January, Anno Domini 1747-8, in the 57th year of his age. 

This stone was erected as a monumental token of love and gratitude to our late pas- 
tor, the Rev. Caleb Smith, who died 22d October, 1762, in the 39th year of his age. 
Beneath this tomb the precious relics lie, 
Of one too great to live, but not to die. 
Indued by nature with superior parts, 
To swim in science, and to scan the arts, 
To soar aloft, inflamed with sacred love, 
To know, admire, and serve the God above ; 
Gifted to sound the thundering law's alarms, 
The smiles of virtue, and the gospel's charms ; 
A faithful watchman, studious to discharge 
Th' important duties of his sacred charge ; 
To say the whole, and sound the highest fame, 
He lived a Christian, and he died the same. 
A man so useful from his people rent, 
His babes, the college, and the church lament. 

Sacred to the memory of Doctor John Condit, a patriot soldier and surgeon during 
the struggles of his country for freedom ; a member of the N. J. Legislature, and a 
Representative and Senator in the Congress of the United States for thirty years in suc- 
cession. His honors were awarded him by grateful constituents for his sound and vigor- 
ous intellect, stern integrity, and unwavering patriotism, in times of peril, and through- 
out a long life. On the 4th of May, 1834, he died in Christian hope, revered, respected, 
and beloved by all who knew him, aged 79 years. 

In memory of Amos Dodd, who departed this life Sept. 20th, 1839, aged 71 years 
and 8 months. This stone records the name of an idiot, familiarly known as the Dumb 
Boy. Though he exhibited nothing of man but the material form, under its coarsest 
aspect, and always required the care of a child, his protracted life attests the affection- 
ate and dutiful kindness of the family to which he belonged. Twenty years ago a fond 
mother resigned this object of yearning solicitude, under Providence, to a brother, who 
closes his fraternal obligations and sympathies by raising this monument to the memory 
of Poor Amos. 



188 



ESSEX COUNTY. 



Dr. Isaac Pierson, born Aug. 15th, 1770, died Sept. 22d, 1833. He received his 
academic education at Princeton College, and was subsequently admitted a Fellow of 
the College of Surgeons and Physicians, New York. During nearly forty years, he 
practised medicine in this village, and was a Representative of the State in the 20th 
and 21st Congresses. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. 



Rev. Asa Hillyer, D. D., was graduated at Yale College 1786, ordained a minister 
of the gospel 1790, installed pastor of the Presbyterian church in Orange 1801, where 

he continued to labor until his decease, Aug. 28, 1840, in his 77th year. Erected by 

the Second Presbyterian Congregation of Orange, as a tribute of affection and esteem 
lor the deceased. 



RAHWAY. 

Rahway was taken from Westfield and Elizabeth in 1804. Its 
average length is 6, and breadth 3 miles, bounded N. by Elizabeth 




Central part of Rahway. 

and Union ; E. by Staten Island Sound ; S. by Piscataway and 
Woodbridge, Middlesex co., and W. by Westfield. The surface 
of the township is very level, the soil well cultivated and produc- 
tive. The Rahway river passes through and partially bounds the 
township on the south : on this stream are numerous mill and man- 
ufacturing establishments. There are in the township 1 paper-m., 14 
flouring-m., 4 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $355,525 ; 1 
acad., 41 students, 7 schools, 244 scholars. Pop. 2,533. 

Rahway was originally settled by the descendants of the set- 
tlers of Elizabethtown. The first dwellings appear to have been 
built about 1720. The lower part of the village was almost 
entirely settled by Friends. The place is supposed to have de- 
rived its name from an Indian chief named Rahwack, who is said 
to have lived where the town now stands. 

The annexed engraving is a view of the hotel and some other 
buildings in the central part of Rahway — a stopping-place for 



ESSEX COUNTY. 189 

cars of the New Jersey railroad, 10 miles SW. of Newark, 19 
from New York, 1 1 from New Brunswick, and 38 from Trenton. 
The town or village of Rahway lies at the head of tide water, 5 
miles from the mouth of Rahway river. Schooners of the largest 
size are able to ascend the whole distance. It is divided by the 
county line, which mainly follows the river, into two parts, called 
Upper and Lower Rahway. The latter, formerly known by the 
name of Bridgetown, lies within the township of Woodbridge, 
Middlesex co., and includes Leesville ; the former is a part of the 
township of Rahway proper, and includes the small village of Mil- 
ton. The population of the village in all its detached parts is 
4,500. There are in the town 5 houses for public worship, 2 for 
Friends, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, and 1 Baptist ; an Episcopal 
church is now about being erected. Rahway enjoys excellent 
advantages for a liberal education for youth of both sexes. It has 
a classical boarding-school, where boys are prepared for college. 
The Rahway Female Institute, an excellent boarding-school for 
young ladies, has been for several years in successful operation. 
There are in the place a bank, an insurance-office, and about 30 
stores. 

Rahway derives its principal support from its manufactures. 
These are chiefly carriage-making, in all its branches, hats, and 
clothing. Previous to the late commercial embarrassments, there 
were 12 large factories for making carriages, several large hat 
factories, and the value of ready-made clothing amounted to about 
half a million of dollars yearly. There are also manufactured 
here stoves, earthen and stone ware : there is an extensive factory 
for the dyeing, dressing, and printing of silks ; another for print- 
ing calicoes, and a third for fulling cloth and the manufacture of 
satinets. An iron foundry has been recently established. 

Abraham Clark, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, 
was born about one and a half miles from Rahway village, on the 
upper road to Elizabethtown, Feb. 15th, 1726. He was the only 
child of Thomas Clark, one of the aldermen of Elizabethtown. 
He had naturally a weak constitution and a slender form, which, 
though educated a farmer, prevented him from engaging in any very 
laborious pursuits. His principal occupations in early life were 
surveying, conveyancing, and giving legal advice. He was not by 
profession a lawyer, but gave advice gratuitously, and by his gen- 
erosity procured for himself the honorable title of the "Poor Man's 
Counsellor" He successively held the offices of high sheriff, com- 
missioner for settling undivided lands, and clerk of the colonial 
assembly. In 1776 he was appointed one of the delegates to the 
continental congress. He continued to be elected to a seat in 
congress most of the time during the continuance of the old con- 
federation ; and after the adoption of the federal constitution was 
elected a member of the house of representatives of the United 
States. Mr. Clark retired from public life in June, 1794, and in 
the autumn of the same year experienced a coup de soleil, or stroke of 



190 ESSEX COUNTY. 

the sun, which caused his death in two hours. " In private life he 
was reserved and contemplative. Limited in his circumstances, 
moderate in his desires, and unambitious of wealth, he was far 
from being parsimonious in his private concerns, although a rigid 
economist in public affairs." 

The feelings which actuated Mr. Clark during his public life ap- 
pear to have been very remarkably disinterested. He scrupulously 
refrained from exerting his influence with congress in favor of his 
sons, who were officers in the American army. In one instance, 
however, paternal feeling was exercised with propriety. Thomas 
Clark, one of his sons, a captain of artillery, was taken prisoner 
and immured in a dungeon, with no other food than that which 
was introduced by his fellow-prisoners through a key-hole. On a 
representation of this fact to congress, retaliation was resorted to 
upon the person of a British captain ; the desired result was pro- 
duced, and Capt. Clark's sufferings were mitigated. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard at Rah way : 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Aaron Richards, of Raway, who deceased May 
16th, 1793, aged 75 years, and in the 45th year of his ministry. 
All who knew the man will join 
Their friendly sighs and tears to mine ; 
For all who knew his merits must confess, 
In grief for him there can be no excess. 
His soul was form'd to act each glorious part ; 
Of life unstain'd with vanity or art. 
No thought within his generous mind had birth, 
But what he might have own'd in heaven and earth. 



In memory of Abraham Clark, Esq., who died Sept. 15th, 1794, in the 69th year of 
his age. Firm and decided as a patriot, zealous and faithful as a public servant, he 
loved his country, and adhered to her cause in the darkest hours of her struggle against 
oppression. 



Mr. John Lawrence, who, Nov. 6th, first drew his breath, and Oct. 16th, 1766, yield- 
ed to death. 

From London truly famed came I ; 
Was born in Stains, a place near by; 
In Ra*-way at old age did die ; 
And here intomb'd in earth must lie, 
Till Christ ye dead calls from on high. 



SPRINGFIELD. 

Springfield was formed from Newark and Elizabeth, in 1793. 
It is about 6 miles long, and 4 wide ; bounded N. by Livingston, E. 
by Clinton and Union, SW. by Westfield and New Providence, and 
W. by Chatham, Morris co. The surface is generally hilly ; the 
Short Hills passing through it centrally. Rahway river, with sev- 
eral branches, is on its eastern boundary, on which are numerous 
mills and factories. There are in the township 1 1 paper-m., 3 



ESSEX COUNTY, 
in manufac. $158,694; 



191 

7 schools, 453 



grist-m., 2 saw-m. ; cap 
scholars. Pop. 1,651. 

The village of Springfield is on the turnpike road from Eliza- 
bethtown to Morristown, 6 miles from the former, 1 1 from the lat- 
ter, 8 SW. from Newark, and 50 from Trenton. It is at the foot 
of the Short hills, or First mountain, near Rahway river. It is a 




Western View in Springfield. 

pleasant village, containing about 200 houses, a Presbyterian and 
a Methodist church, 5 stores, 10 paper-mills, with a number of hat 
and shoe manufactories. The annexed engraving shows, on the 
right, the Presbyterian church ; on the left, the Methodist church 
and the ancient parsonage. The parsonage was one of the few 
dwellings preserved, when the British burnt the village and church, 
in 1780. After the church was destroyed, public worship was for 
some months performed in the parsonage, until the barn was ren- 
dered in a measure convenient for that purpose ; where meetings 
were held until the present Presbyterian church was completed, in 
1790 or 1791. 

The following historical items were derived from two manuscript 
sermons : one delivered by the present pastor of the Presbyterian 
church, Rev. J. C. Hart, July 4th, 1840 ; the other by a former pas- 
tor, in 1823. 

The time the earliest white inhabitants established themselves 
in Springfield, cannot now be ascertained with certainty. The 
earliest accurate date is the year 1717, when the Briant family 
came here, from Hackensack. The next authentic date is from a 
tomb-stone of Mr. William Stites, in the old burying-ground, hav- 
ing the date of 1727. When Mr. Briant's family came, there were 
only three houses between Elizabeth and Morristown. Springfield 
originally belonged both to the township and parish of Elizabeth- 
town ; and it is said that the people were accustomed to walk 
thither to church, from this place, Union, and Westfield. In 1738, 
it is believed that there were only three houses in the village of 
Springfield; which were occupied by Thomas Denman and the 



192 ESSEX COUNTY. 

Van Winckle and Whitehead families. It is probable that the 
northern part of the township was first settled, inasmuch as the 
first meeting-house and burying-ground were situated there, about 
half a mile north of the present residence of Mr. Aaron Dean. 

The first Presbyterian church in this place was organized by the 
presbytery of New York, in 1745 ; and was originally a branch of 
that at Connecticut Farms. About that period the first church 
was built. In 1746, the Rev. Timothy Symmes became pastor, in 
connection with the church at New Providence, and continued un- 
til 1750. He was the grandfather of Capt. Symmes, whose novel 
theory of the structure of the earth excited so much attention, a 
few years since. The second house of worship was probably 
erected in 1761 or 1762, on the site of the present church. After 
a vacancy of 13 years, the Rev. Mr. Ker, a native of Baskingridge, 
was settled over the congregation, in 1763. He remained only two 
years. In 1774, he was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Vanarsdalen, 
who was dismissed on account of ill health, in 1801, and died in 
this place, in 1803. His successor was Rev. Gershom Williams, 
installed Aug. 1803, and dismissed in 1818. He was succeeded by 
Rev. James W. Tucker, of Danbury, Conn., who was installed 
Aug. 1818, and died in 1819. 

The following account of the battle fought at Springfield, June 
23d, 1780, and some of the previous events, are from newspapers 
published at the time : 

Extract from a Letter from Morristown, June 9. — The day before yesterday the ene- 
my came out from New York via Staten Island, and landed at Elizabethtown about 
5,000 men. Our army all moved to meet them. The militia turned out with spirit ; 
skirmishing in abundance. One militia-captain, with four men, took sixteen British. 
It is said the enemy intended for this town. They have been between Connecticut 
Farms and Springfield, and burnt every house in the former, (about twenty in number,) 
except one. They have been driven back to Elizabethtown Point, where they lie behind 
our old intrenchments. Our army is at the Short Hills, this side of Springfield. The 
militia are near the enemy, and keep a constant popping at them. I believe New York 
is very bare of troops. The tories were so sure of the enemy's succeeding, that they 
sent word to their friends in Elizabethtown that they should pay them a visit the day 
after the enemy came over. They are balked ; the affair is not settled yet. Mr. Lud- 
wig, of your city, and baker-general of the army, was in the action, and taken a pris- 
oner. 

Extract from a Letter from Baskingridge, dated June 10, 1780. — On Tuesday night, 
the 6th inst., the enemy landed at Elizabethtown Point, and early on Wednesday morn- 
ing advanced in force as far as Connecticut Farms, within about two miles of Spring- 
field. The Jersey brigade, which lay at Elizabeth, skirmished with them all the way up ; 
and such of the militia as could collect joined in opposing their progress, and fought in 
such a manner as does them great honor, and if possible exalts the reputation of the 
Jersey militia. Their progress was stopped at a small bridge, by a single cannon, aided 
probably by their own apprehensions. 

The skirmishing was very smart and bold on our part, so as to do them considerable 
damage ; but as they continued to advance, but few of their killed and wounded fell in- 
to our hands. They wounded four officers of the Jersey brigade, and killed one — a Mr. 
Ogden. I am uncertain of the number of men killed and wounded ; and two of them 
(British) have come to this place, which is the nearest hospital. 

Gen. Knyphausen commanded in person, and it is said they brought with them seven 
days' provisions, a great number of wagons, &c, as if they intended to make a stand 
at some distance in the country, perhaps on the First mountain ; but a detachment of our 
army, marching down as far as Springfield to meet them, arrived in the evening within 



ESSEX COUNTY. 193 

two or three miles of the enemy, and halted until next morning, when a battle was ex- 
pected. The enemy, in the mean time, not by moonlight, but under cover of a dark 
cloud, attended with some rain, retreated to Elizabethtown Point, where they have re- 
mained quiet ever since. Gen. Washington remains, with the main body of our army, 
at the Short Hills. Gen. Maxwell, with some militia, lie as an advanced party, at or 
near Elizabeth. 

Since the enemy have been at Elizabethtown Point, a party of sixteen of our militia 
have been out upon a scout — fell in with seventeen of the enemy, whom they brought 
off, with their arms, without firing a gun. 

We are informed that the enemy still continue at Elizabethtown Point, inactive, ex- 
cept scouting parties, that are daily skirmishing with our militia ; in several of which 
the militia have fought with great spirit, and been successful. Our loss is computed to 
be about thirty killed and wounded, Capt. Reves being among the former. The enemy's 
loss is said to be 150 killed, and as many more wounded. 

Annexed is the report of Gen. Greene, relating to the action at 
Springfield, and the burning of it by the British, June 23d, 1780. 
In communicating this report to congress, Washington remarked : 

The conduct of the enemy giving us reason to suspect a design against West Point, 
on the 21st the army, except two brigades and the horse, (left under the command of 
Gen. Greene, to cover the country and our stores,) was put in motion, to proceed slowly 
towards Pompton. On the 22d it arrived at Rockaway bridge, about 11 miles from 
Morristown. The day following the enemy moved in force from Elizabethtown toward 
Springfield. They were opposed, with great conduct and spirit, by Maj. Gens. Greene 
and Dickinson, with the continental troops, and such of the militia as had assembled. 
But, with their superiority of numbers, they of course gained Springfield. Having burnt 
the village, they retired the same day to their former position. In the night they aban- 
doned it, crossed over to Staten Island, and took up their bridge. I beg leave to refer 
congress to Gen. Greene's report for particulars. 

The enemy have not made their incursion into this state without loss. Ours has 
been small. The militia deserve every thing that can be said, on both occasions. They 
flew to arms universally, and acted with a spirit equal to any thing I have seen in the 
course of the war. 

Major General Greene's Report. 

Springfield, June 24, 1780. 
Sir : I have been too busily employed, until the present moment, to lay before your 
excellency the transactions of yesterday. 

The enemy advanced from Elizabethtown about five in the morning — said to be 
about five thousand infantry, with a large body of cavalry, and fifteen or twenty pieces 
of artillery. Their march was rapid and compact. They moved in two columns ; one 
on the main road, leading to Springfield ; the other on the Vauxhall road. Maj. Lee, 
with the horse and piquets, opposed the right column, and Col. Dayton, with his regi- 
ment, the left ; and both gave as much opposition as could have been expected from so 
sftiall a force. 

Our troops were so extended to guard the different roads leading to the several 
passes over the mountain, that I had scarcely time to collect them at Springfield, and 
make the necessary dispositions, before the enemy appeared before the town ; when a 
cannonade commenced between their advance and our artillery, posted for the defence 
of the bridge. The enemy continued manoeuvring in our front for upwards of two hours, 
which induced me to believe they were attempting to gain our flanks. My force was 
small, and, from the direction of the roads, my situation was critical. I disposed of our 
troops in the best manner I could to guard our flanks, to secure a retreat, and oppose the 
advance of their columns. 

Col. Angell, with his regiment and several small detachments, and one piece of ar- 
tillery, was posted to secure the bridge, in front of the town. Col. Shrieve's regiment 
was drawn up at the second bridge, to cover the retreat of those posted at the first. 
Maj. Lee, with his dragoons, and the piquets commanded by Capt. Walker, was posted 
at Little's bridge, on the Vauxhall road ; and Col. Ogden was detached to support him. 
The remainder of Gen. Maxwell's and Stark's brigades were drawn up on the high 
grounds at the mill. The militia were on the flanks. Those under the command of 
Gen. Dickinson made a spirited attack upon one of the enemy's flanking parties ; but 
his force was too small to push the advantage he had gained. 



194 



ESSEX COUNTY. 




Plan of the 

Battle of Springfield, fought 

June 23, 1780. 

[References. — A. Church. B. Parson- 
age. E. First bridge on the main road. 
C. Second bridge. J. Vauxhall bridge, 
or Little's. D. Station of the Ameri- 
can troops, on rising ground. F. Prin- 
cipal pass over the Short Hills. H, G, I. 
Other passes. K. High grounds and 
mill, supposed to be the same as the first 
range of hills in rear of Byram's tavern. 

Note. — This map was drawn in 1842.] 



While the enemy were making demonstrations on their left, their right column ad- 
vanced on Maj. Lee. The bridge was disputed with great obstinacy, and the enemy 
must have received very considerable injury ; but by fording the river, and gaining the 
point of the hill, they obliged the major with his party to give up the pass.* At this 
instant their last column began the attack on Col. Angell. The action was severe, and 
lasted about forty minutes, when superior numbers overcame obstinate bravery, and 
forced our troops to retire over the second bridge. There the enemy were warmly re- 
ceived by Col. Shrieve's regiment : but as they advanced in great force, with a large 
train of artillery, he had orders to join the brigade. 

As the enemy continued to press our left, on the Vauxhall road, which led directly 
into our rear, and would have given them the most important pass, and finding our 
front too extensive to be effectually secured by so small a body of troops, I thought it 
most advisable to take our post upon the first range of hills, in the rear of Byram , s 
tavern, where the roads are brought so near a point that succor might readily be given 
from one to the other. This enabled me to detach Col. Webb's regiment, commanded 
by Lieut. Col. Huntington, and Col. Jackson's regiment, with one piece of artillery, 
which entirely checked the advance of the enemy on our left, and secured that pass. 

Being thus advantageously posted, I was in hopes the enemy would have attempted 
to gain the heights ; but discovering in them no disposition for attacking us, and seeing 
them begin to fire the houses in town, detachments were ordered out, on every quarter, 
to prevent their burning buildings not under the immediate command of their cannon 
and musketry. In a few minutes they had set fire to almost every house in town, and 
begun their retreat. Capt. Davis, with a detachment of 120 men, several smaller par- 
ties, with a large body of militia, fell upon their rear and flanks, and kept up a con- 
tinual fire upon them, till they entered Elizabelhtown, which place they reached about 
sunset. Stark's brigade was immediately put in motion, on the first appearance of a 
retreat, which was so precipitate that they were not able to overtake them. 

The enemy continued at Elizabethtown Point until 12 o'clock at night, and then 
began to cross their troops to Staten Island. By six this morning, they had totally 
evacuated the Point, and removed their bridge. Maj. Lee fell in with their rear-guard, 
but they were so covered by their works, that little or no injury could be done them. He 
made some refugee prisoners, and took some tories, which they abandoned to expedite 
their retreat. 

I have the pleasure to inform your excellency, that the troops who were engaged 
behaved with great coolness and intrepidity, and the whole of them discovered an im- 



* Probably the first bridge. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 195 

patience to be brought into action. The good order and discipline which they exhibited 
in all their movements, do them the highest honor. The artillery, under the command 
of Lieut. Col. Forest, was well served. I have only to regret the loss of Captain 
Thompson, who fell at his side by a cannon-ball. 

It is impossible to fix with certainty the enemy's loss ; but as there was much close 
firing, and our troops advantageously posted, they must have suffered very considerably. 

I herewith enclose your excellency a return of our killed, wounded, and missing, 
which I am happy to hear is much less than I expected, from the heavy fire they sus- 
tained. 

I am at a loss to determine what was the object of the enemy's expedition. If it 
was to injure the troops under my command, or to penetrate further into the country, 
they were frustrated. If the destruction of this place, it was a disgraceful one. I la- 
ment that our force was too small to save the town from ruin. I wish every American 
could have been a spectator ; they would have felt for the sufferers, and joined to revenge 
the injury. 

I cannot close this letter without acknowledging the particular services of Lieut. 
Col. Barber, who acted as deputy adjutant-general, and distinguished himself by his ac- 
tivity in assisting to make the necessary dispositions. 

I have the honor to be, &c. N. GREENE, Major-General. 

There were a number of prisoners made, but as they went to Morris, I had no return 
of them. 

To his excellency General Washington. 

Return of the killed, wounded, and missing, in the action of the 23i of June, 1780. 

Springfield Artillery — Killed, 1 captain, 2 sergeants ; wounded, 2 matrosses. 

Angell's Regiment — Killed, 1 sergeant, 5 rank and file ; wounded, 1 captain, 3 subs., 
3 sergeants, 25 rank and file ; missing, 3 rank and file. 

Shrieve's Regiment — Killed, 1 rank and file ; wounded, 1 sergeant, 2 rank and file ; 
missing, 2 rank and file. 

Dayton's Regiment — Killed, 2 rank and file ; wounded, 1 sub., 6 rank and file ; miss- 
ing, 4 rank and file. 

Spencer's Regiment — Wounded, 1 sergeant. 

Lee's Detachment — Killed, 1 rank and file ; wounded, 4 rank and file. 

Total — Killed, 1 captain, 3 sergeants, 9 rank and file ; wounded, 1 captain, 4 subs., 
5 sergeants, 37 rank and file, 2 matrosses ; missing, 9 rank and file. 

The return of Davis's detachment I could not get, he having marched off the next 
morning after the action. The return of the militia I cannot get. They had none killed, 
but about 12 wounded. 

(Signed) F. BARBER, Lieut. Col. 



UNION. 

Union was formed from Elizabeth in 1808. It is 5 miles long, 
with an average width of 4f miles : bounded N. by Clinton ; E. by- 
Elizabeth ; S. by Rahway, and W. by Springfield and Westfield, 
from which it is divided by Rahway river. The face of the town- 
ship is undulating, the soil rich, easily tilled, very productive, and 
well watered with fine streams. It is said that when Washington 
was passing through this section, he pronounced it the " garden of 
New Jersey," on account of its beauty and fertility. There are 
large tracts of turf meadow in Union, containing probably about 
500 acres, the largest of which lies directly south of the church. 
The turf or peat is dug out in the summer, and dried under sheds 
erected in the meadows, where it remains about one year to dry, 
when it is used extensively as fuel. The inhabitants are principal- 
ly agriculturists, who are generally in comfortable circumstances. 



]96 ESSEX COUNTY 

There are 2 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; 1 academy, 5 schools, 183 scholars. 
Pop. 1,482. 

The village of Union, or, as it is generally known, " Connecticut 
Farms, 1 " is in the northern part of the township, 4 miles NW. from 
Elizabethtown, 6 SW. from Newark, and 47 from Trenton. It con- 
tains the Post Office, Presbyterian church, and about 30 dwellings 
in the immediate vicinity. This place was originally known as 
"Wade's Farms," from early settlers of that name, who resided in 
this section. Previous to 1749, a number of families from Connec- 
ticut purchased a large tract of land here, and divided it into farms 
of a convenient size, and gave it the name of " Connecticut Farms." 
The favorable traits of New England character are still retained 
among the inhabitants. 

The first pastor of the Presbyterian church at this place, of whom 
any information can be obtained, was the Rev. Mr. Horton ; but 
the date of his settlement and removal is unknown. The Rev. 
Mr. Thane was settled in 1 749, and removed in 1 757. Rev. Mr. 
Derbe was settled in 1758, and continued about two years ; Rev. 
Benjamin Hait was settled in 176G, and died in 1779. Rev. Mr. 
Fish was settled in 1789, and removed in 1799. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. Samuel Smith in 1800, who died the next year. Rev. 
Stephen Thompson, the next minister, was settled in 1802, and re- 
moved in 1834, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Street, the 
present pastor, in 1835. 

During the revolution, this place was visited by the enemy, and 
their path was marked by desolation and blood. When the British 
army, under General Knyphausen, were on their march from Eliza- 
bethtown toward Springfield, June 7, 1780, they burnt the church, 
parsonage, and several dwellings at Connecticut Farms. These 
were the houses of Benjamin Thompson, Moses Thompson, John 
Wade, Robert Wade : all on the road running east from the meet- 
ing-house ; Caleb Wade at the foot of the hill on which the church 
stands. Before the dwellings were destroyed, they were searched, 
and every thing of a portable character carried off. Not any thing 
was left. Even the beds were ripped open, the feathers thrown 
into the street, and the ticking taken for clothing. The next day, 
it is said, the feathers were seen thickly strewn upon the ground. 
The few little valuables of the inhabitants, easily removed, were 
secured, and sometimes in a singular manner. For instance, what 
little silver they possessed, as spoons, &c, some would bury in the 
ground, others hide in the ash-hole, and some cast into the well. 

In two or three years after, the meeting-house was rebuilt on 
the same spot, and the parsonage also reconstructed on its former 
site. 

At the time the parsonage was burnt, and for a few months pre- 
vious, it was occupied by the family of the Rev. James Caldwell, 
pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Elizabethtown, to which 
they had resorted for greater security. 

" Mrs. Caldwell was the daughter of John Ogden, Esq., of Newark. Her amiable 



ESSEX COUNTY. 197 

disposition, piety, and exemplary deportment had obtained for her the very particular 
respect and attachment of all who knew her. Her life had evinced she was worthy of 
the sphere in which she had moved, and prepared for the event which now prematurely 
befell her. She was the mother of nine children, the eldest of whom was sixteen years 
old, and the youngest an infant. 

"Although Mrs. Caldwell was apprized of the approach of the enemy in season to 
escape, her mind was made up on this subject, and she resolved, in humble reliance on 
Divine Providence, to remain at home. When the enemy were entering the village, she 
withdrew from the apartment she usually occupied, into one more retired, for the purpose 
of devotion, as well as security, with her infant in her arms. The maid who had ac- 
companied her to this secluded apartment, and had charge of the other small children, 
on looking out of a window into the back yard, observed to Mrs. Caldwell that ' a red- 
coat soldier had jumped over the fence, and was coming up to the window with a gun.' 
Her youngest son, nearly two years old, playing upon the floor, on hearing what the 
maid said, called out, ' Let me see! let me see ." and ran that way. Mrs. Caldwell 
rose from sitting on a bed very near ; and at this moment the soldier fired his musket at 
her through the window. It was loaded with two balls, which both passed through her 
body. The surrounding buildings, and the house in which this deed was perpetrated, 
were soon after set on fire. It was with difficulty the dead body of Mrs. Caldwell 
could be preserved from the general destruction that ensued. After it had lain some- 
time exposed in the open street, and in the hot sun, liberty was obtained to place her re- 
mains in a small dwelling-house* on the opposite side of the road, which had survived 
the general conflagration. 

" The following night Mr. Caldwell spent at the Short Hills, near Springfield. He 
retired to rest in the evening in excessive anxiety respecting the fate of his wife and 
children. In his sleepless state he overheard two men in an adjoining room talking on 
the subject of the death of Mrs. Caldwell. He rose quickly, and entered their room in 
great agitation, and inquired what they had heard on the subject. They represented it 
only as a rumor, and probably a mistake, and persuaded him to return to his bed. The 
remainder of the night was to him a season of painful suspense and anxiety. In the 
morning Mr. Caldwell procured a. flag, and proceeded with all possible speed to Connec- 
ticut Farms, to visit his family, and ascertain their fate. While yet at some distance, 
he discovered that the church and village were in ruins, and that the enemy had re- 
turned to Staten Island ; and very soon he learned the truth of the afflicting rumor be- 
fore received, that Mrs. Caldwell was no more. Her friends were assembled ; and the 
funeral service performed, with as much solemnity and order as the desolation and 
alarm universally prevalent wouid permit." The inhuman murder of this estimable 
lady, together with the wanton destruction of the village, produced a strong impression 
on the public mind, and " served still more to confirm the settled hate of the well affect- 
ed against the British government." 

Among the traditions of the revolution, the following are chroni- 
cled in the memory of some of the aged at this place : 

A house at Lyon's Farms, about three miles distant, was taken 
possession of during the war by twenty-five Hessians, and made a 
place of rendezvous. Three daring men, viz. Matthias Wade, 

Barnabas Carter, and Morehouse, determined to surprise and 

rout them. The night was chosen, and their plan laid. Wade 
was to shoot the sentinel in front of the house, the report of whose 
gun was to be the signal for the other two to raise a shout back of 
the dwelling and fire into the windows. The plan was completely 
successful. The terrified Hessians, supposing they were surround- 
ed by superior numbers, fled with all possible speed, leaving their 
guns, ammunition, and other articles of value, to their victorious 
enemies. 

At another time, five Hessian soldiers obtained possession of a 

* Then belonging to Capt. Henry Wade ; now rebuilt and occupied by Mr. Phineas 
Crilley. 



j 98 ESSEX COUNTY. 

house near the present residence of Mr. Jonathan Mulford, in the 
south part of the township. No sooner was it known, than the 
dwelling was entered by Jonas and Matthias Wade, and Elijah 
Terrill. The latter was immediately clinched, and would have 
been overcome by the superior strength of his antagonist, but for 
the timely assistance of one of his comrades, who ran the Hessian 
through with his bayonet. The remaining four were then taken 
prisoners. 

About a quarter of a mile east of the meeting-house the road is 
crossed by a small brook, on either side of which the ground is 
considerably elevated. On the western eminence, about sixty of 
the people planted themselves with only muskets, resolved to dis- 
pute the passage of the British army on their march from Eliza- 
bethtown to Springfield ; and so well did they make their stand, that 
for several hours they kept the enemy at a stand, and prevented 
their progress until their want of ammunition compelled them to 
retreat. 

At this time, as the army were approaching the meeting-house, 
a Mr. Ball had stationed himself behind a shop at the foot of the 
church hill, across the road, to watch the movements of the enemy. 
As he was looking from his hiding-place, to see how near they had 
approached, a ball passed through his head, and brought him to 
the ground. On the opposite side of the street, directly in the 
rear of the store of Mr. Wade, Abial Hays and James W. Wade 
were secreted behind a shoemaker's shop, and were eye-witnesses 
to the fate of their friend. Unwilling to see him suffering without 
affording assistance, Mr. Hays crossed the street in the face of the 
enemy, carried away his wounded companion under cover of the 
shop and house behind which the unhappy Ball had fallen, and 
bore him to the house where Mr. Joel Searing now resides. 

On the same day, the enemy were repulsed on their approach to 
Springfield by a company of artillery under Capt. Little. This 
corps were drawn up on the eastern border of Springfield, on the 
bank of the Rahway river. As soon as the British rose the hill 
near the stream, they opened a fire upon them with so good an 
effect as to bring them to a pause, having killed one horse, dis- 
mounted a cannon, and wounded some of the men. In consequence 
a council of war was held, and the march delayed until the next 
day. 

Jersey Blues. The origin of this name is somewhat curious. 
It is said to have grown out of the following circumstance : A 
volunteer company was formed in this vicinity, and furnished by 
the patriotic females with tow frocks and pantaloons dyed blue. 
They must have presented a singular appearance ; but they were 
also singularly efficient in the day of trial. 

The following inscriptions are from monuments in the grave- 
yard adjoining the Presbyterian church. The first is that of the 
mother of one of the first settlers. 



ESSEX COUNTY. 199 

Here lyeth ye body of Ann Wade, wife of Benjamin Wade, deceased ; who departed 
this life July ye 31, A Domini 1737, in ye 88th year of her age. 

Who knew him living must lament him dead, 
Whose corpse beneath this Verdant Turf is laid. 
Bonnel, in Private Life, in Public Trust, 
Was Wise and Kind, was Generous and Just. 
In Virtue's rigid Path unmoved he trod, 
To Self Impartial, pious to his God. 
Religion's Patron, and a Patriot True, 
A general Good, and private blessing too, 
What Bonnel was, and what his Virtues were, 
The Resurrection day will best declare. 
Joseph Bonnel, Esq., deceased March ye 14, 1747-8, in ye 63d year of his age. 

In remembrance of Capt. Cornelius Williams, who died July 4, 1831, aged 77 years. 
He served early and long in the revolution struggle ; was a brave soldier and a pleasant 
commander. 



WESTFIELD. 

Westfield was formed from Elizabeth in 1794. Its extreme 
length is 10 miles, with an average breadth of 5 miles. It is 




Plainfield, from Randolph or Chestnut Hill. 

bounded NE. by Springfield ; E. by Union and Rahway ; S. by 
Piscataway and Woodbridge, Middlesex co. ; and westerly by 
Warren, Somerset county, and New Providence. Much of the 
soil is fertile, and in a state of high cultivation. Rahway river 
forms a part of the eastern boundary, and Green brook the western. 
There are in the township 12 stores, 1 paper fac, 5 flouring-m., 4 
grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $110,530; 2 academies, 70 
students, 14 schools, 444 scholars. Pop. 3,150. 

The large and thriving village of Plainfield is beautifully situ- 
ated on Green brook, in the SW. part of the township of West- 
field, on the line of the Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad, 20 
miles from Newark, 16 SW. from Elizabethtown, 11 from New 



200 ESSEX COUNTY. 

Brunswick, 25 from New York, and 45 from Trenton. The view 
from which the annexed engraving was copied, was taken from an 
elevation on the road to Rah way, upwards of a mile from the vil- 
lage. Plainfield contains 7 stores, 8 tailoring and 6 hat manufac- 
turing establishments, 2 wheelwrights, 5 blacksmiths, 2 grist and 3 
saw-mills, a Mutual Insurance company, established in 1832 ; 
2 fire-engines, 2 boarding-schools, viz. "The Plainfield Family 
School," and a Female Seminary. It has 7 houses for public 
worship, viz. 1 Presbyterian, 2 Baptist, 1 Seventh-day Baptist, 2 
Friends, and 1 Methodist ; there are about 300 dwelling-houses, and 
nearly 1,500 inhabitants. "The country around the town is rich, 
well cultivated, and healthy ; the society moral and religious, and 
ambitious of improvement." The neighboring mountain, about a 
mile N. of the town, affords an abundant supply of cheap fuel, and 
screens the valley from the violence of the N. and NW. winds ; and 
from its summit a fine prospect is presented to the S. and E. over a 
space of 30 miles. 

The first frame-building in Plainfield was erected in 1735, at 
which period there were but a few scattered log huts and Indian 
wigwams. In 1750 the first grist-m. was built, and in 1760 the first 
school-house. In 1788 the first meeting-house was erected by the 
Friends. In 1808 the first hat manufactory was established. The 
first Baptist church was erected in 1818 ; the Rev. Jacob Randolph 
was pastor eight years, when he died. Rev. Daniel T. Hill was 
settled as pastor in 1828 : he remained till his resignation in 1839, 
when he was succeeded by Rev. Simeon J. Drake. The Presbyte- 
rian church was built in 1826 ; the Rev. Lewis Bond being its first 
pastor. The Methodist church was erected in 1832. The 2d Bap- 
tist church, an elegant building, was erected in 1843; and Rev. 
Daniel T. Hill chosen pastor. The Presbyterian society have laid 
out a beautiful cemetery near the town. 

The Scotch Plains, so named from having been settled by Scotch 
emigrants about 1684, is a rich agricultural vicinity, in the west 
part of the township, where there is a Baptist church. This church 
(says Benedict, in his History of the Baptists) is a branch of the 
ancient one in Piscataway, and was constituted in 1747, with 15 
members. The first pastor was the Rev. Benjamin Miller, a native 
of the place. He was ordained in 1748, and continued pastor till 
his death in 1781. He is said to have been a wild youth, but met 
with a sudden and surprising change, under a sermon of the cele- 
brated Gilbert Tennent. Rev. Wm. Vanhorn was settled in 1785, 
and died in 1807, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Brown, of 
Newark. From this church originated James Manning, D. D., the 
first President of Brown University. 

Westfield is 7 miles W. from Elizabethtown, on the line of the 
Elizabethtown and Somerville railroad. It is a neat village, con- 
sisting of about 30 or 40 dwellings, in the vicinity of which is a 
Presbyterian church. The following historical items are from a 
discourse preached in January, 1839, by Rev. James M. Hunting, 
pastor of this church. 






ESSEX COUNTY. 



201 



This parish was settled about the year 1720, by the English. The most common 
names among the early settlers here, were, as placed in alphabetical order, Acken, Badg- 
ley, Baker, Bryant, Brooks, Crane, Clark, Craig, Cory, Connet, Davis, Denman, Dun- 
ham, Frazee, Frost, Gennings, Hendrix, Hinds, High, Hetfield, Hole, Lambert, Littell, 
Ludlum, Meeker, Miller, Marsh, Mills, Pierson, Robinson, Ross, Spinnage, Scudder, 
Tucker, Terry, Williams, Woodruff* Willcox, Yeomans. 




Northeast View of Wa siting ton's Rock. 

Previous to the erection of a church, the inhabitants attended 
public worship at Elizabethtown. The first place of public wor- 
ship was a log house, built about 1730, which stood where Deacon 
William Pierson recently resided. The congregation were called 
together by the beating of a large drum. Soon after, a convenient 
church was erected near the present site. In the revolutionary 
war it was much injured by the enemy, and the bell carried to New 
York. A minister was settled about 1730, by the name of Na- 
thaniel Hubbel. The Rev. John Grant came in 1750 ; the Rev. 
Benjamin Woodruff in 1759 ; the Rev. Thomas Picton in 1805 ; the 
Rev. Alexander Frazee in 1819 ; Rev. Edwin Holt in 1827 ; and 
the Rev. James M. Hunting in March, 1832. 

At an elevation of about 400 feet, on the brow of the mountain 
in the rear of Plainfield, stands Washington's Rock. It is one of 
very large size — being about 25 feet in height, and from 30 to 40 

28 



202 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

in circumference. The bold projection which nature has given it 
from the summit of the eminence, renders it a fine position for tak- 
ing an extensive view of the country below. 

In the summer of 1777, the American army was stationed at 
various places on the plain below — at New Market, Middlebrook, 
&c. After the retreat of Sir Wm. Howe from New Brunswick, — 
and upon his changing his movements, and marching from Amboy 
toward where Plainfield now is, — Washington retreated to the 
heights in face of the enemy. The advance guard of Howe's 
army fell in with Lord Sterling's division. A skirmish ensued, 
and, upon the approach of the column under Cornwallis, Sterling 
was obliged to retreat. Howe pursued him to Westfield, and on 
the next day returned to Amboy. Washington, at this time, was 
on the rock, inspecting the operations of the armies on the plain. 

At various times he resorted to this place to ascertain the move- 
ments of the enemy. This circumstance has given the Rock a --- 
Kjff-o character to the people of the present day, which, in connec- 
tion with the beautiful prospect it affords, has made it a place of 
resort for parties of pleasure. The scene is one of uncommon 
beauty. The whole country, apparently, lies as level as a map at 
the feet of the spectator, for a circuit of 60 miles. On the left ap- 
pear the spires of New York city, part of the bay, Newark, Eliza- 
bethtown, Rahway, and New Brighton. Directly in front are Am- 
boy and Raritan bays. To the right New Brunswick, and heights 
of Princeton and Trenton ; and far to the southeast the eye stretches 
over the plains of Monmouth to the heights of Nevisink. Beauti- 
ful villages bedeck the plain ; and cultivated fields, farmhouses, 
and numerous groves of verdant trees, are spread around in pleas- 
ing profusion. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

The average length of Gloucester co. is about 26 m., breadth on 
the west end 26, and on the east 21m. It is bounded NE. by Bur- 
lington co., SE. by Atlantic co., SW. by Salem co., and a small part 
of Cumberland co., and NW. by the Delaware river. This county 
was first laid out in 1677, and had its boundaries definitely fixed 
in 1709. The SE. bounds were recently altered by the formation 
of the four eastern townships into Atlantic co. Gloucester co. is 
of alluvial formation. In the NW. part reeds and other vegetable 
deposits have been found many feet under ground. Further in the 
interior, sea-shells are discovered in the soil. The surface of the 
county is slightly undulating, the soil in the NW. half generally an 
admixture of clay and sand, and extremely fertile, yielding grain, 
grass, fruit, and vegetables in abundance; the "Marl Region" 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 203 

passes through this part of the county, and immense benefit has of 
late years been derived from its use, whole tracts having been reno- 
vated by its agency. Large quantities of cordwood and timber 
are taken to market from the SE. part, which, excepting occasional 
cultivated clearings, is covered with a pine forest interspersed with 
villages, some of which contain glass-works. The county is wa- 
tered by many streams : those emptying into the Delaware furnish 
the means of transportation for the products of the county to Phil- 
adelphia, the principal market for this section. The county is di- 
vided into 10 townships, of which Deptford, Gloucester, Greenwich, 
Newton, and Waterford, were incorporated in 1798. The follow- 
ing is the list of the present townships: — 
Camden, Franklin, Greenwich, Union, Washington, 

Deptford, Gloucester, Newton, Waterford, Woolwich. 
The population of the townships now comprising Gloucester co., 
was in 1810, 14,684; in 1820, 17,895; in 1830,20,267; in 1840, 
25,445. 



CAMDEN. 

Camden* was formerly embraced in Newton township, from 
which it was set off, and incorporated into a city by a charter 
passed on the 13th Feb., 1828. The corporate limits of the city, 
containing in area about 2 square miles, are bounded on the N. and 
E. by Cooper's creek and Newton township, on the S. by Little 
Newton creek, and on the W. by the river Delaware. Within the 
liberties are included several farms and forests ; the actual city 
extending in detached villages along the river, and leaving to the 
eastward " ample room and verge enough" for building and im- 
provement. The most northerly of these villages is Cooper's Point, 
at which place were established the first settlement and ferry ; 
the next and largest is Camden proper, lying east of Windmill Isl- 
and ; further down are South Camden and Kaighn's Point, lying 
opposite the Philadelphia navy-yard, and reaching nearly to the 
southern boundary of the city. The population in 1830, was 1,987, 
and in 1840 it had increased to 3,366. 

In 1678, Samuel Norris purchased the land now occupied by 
Kaighnton and S. Camden, of Edward Byllinge and trustees ; part 
of which was subsequently conveyed by him to Robert Turner, and 
by him to John Kaighn. Further up, a tract was located on the 
20th Sept., 1681, by Wm. Royden, a purchaser from the trustees of 
Byllinge. This included the land between Kaighn's line and what 
is now called Cooper's-st. This tract was sold in 1689 to Wm. 
Cooper, who had before purchased " Pyne Point," the same now 
called Cooper's Point. A descendant of this individual, Jacob 
Cooper, bought from his predecessor 100 acres of land lying along 

* Communicated for this work by Isaac Mickle, Esq., of Camden. 



204 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

the Delaware from Cooper' s-st. to Joseph Kaighn's line, for " the 
sum of five shillings, as well as for the natural love and affection 
borne him" by the vendor. By a descendant of this gentleman 
the town of Camden was laid out, receiving its name from an Eng- 
lish nobleman who had shown himself favorable to the American 
colonists. As early as 1695, a ferry to Philadelphia was established 
here, and the place bore the name of Cooper's Point until changed 
to its present appellation. — (MS. Lecture by Dr. Mulford.) In the 
war of the revolution it was an outpost for the British during their 
occupancy of Philadelphia, and the remains of the barracks built, 
by them are still visible on the farm of Joseph Cooper, Esq., at the 
Upper Ferry. 

There are some reminiscences connected with the early history 
of Camden which it may not be uninteresting to record. In 1632, 
when Capt. De Vries returned from Holland, and found the friends 
he had left on the Delaware river murdered, and all the forts in 
possession of the perfidious natives, " he was compelled to pardon," 
says Gordon, " where he could not safely punish." He entered into 
negotiation with the Indians, and his first care was to obtain pro- 
visions, under the pretence of furnishing which the natives decoy- 
ed him into Timmerkill, or Cooper's creek, where they designed to 
murder him and his crew, as they had already others in the same 
place on a former occasion. The persons thus betrayed, are sup- 
posed by some to have been the colonists left a few years before 
by Capt. Mey, in Fort Nassau, and by others the crew of a vessel 
from Virginia. De Vries, not suspecting any snare, would have 
met a similar fate, but for the kindness of an Indian woman, who 
boarded his vessel by stealth, informed him that one company had 
already been slaughtered in that place, and put him on his guard 
against the meditated assault of her kindred. It is probable that 
the scene of the intended massacre was that part of Cooper's 
creek which lies opposite Ward's Mount : for here the bank rises 
abruptly on one side to a considerable height, while the channel is 
partially filled with stones which have rolled down from the hill. 
Having grounded the vessel, which was small, the Indians could 
have assailed her with stones and arrows from the precipice, and 
made her crew an easy sacrifice. This incident concurs with a 
thousand others, to show that kindness is an essential quality of 
the female heart, whether it beat in the savage or the belle ; and 
the true lover of virtue cannot but regret that the name of De 
Vries' benefactress, because unknown, must remain forever unhon- 
ored and unsung.* 

Windmill Island was formerly connected with the Jersey shore at Cooper's Point. 
The writer has before him a MS. letter from one Wm. Brown to Thomas Penn, dated 
" Philad., 8th mo. 20th, 1761," — from which the following is an extract : " I am now 
willing to offer two hundred and fifty pounds for the whole island, rather than take the 
lease proposed ; tho' John Kinsey, in his life-time, advised me to get a Jersey right for 

* The incident here related forms the groundwork of a well- written tale in Miss Les. 
lie's Magazine, called " Yacouta, a Legend of West Jersey." 



I 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 205 

it, as there had been great strife with the Jersey people about the grass, (tho' they tell 
me where the grass grew then, it's gone, and gathered in this place,) and as that was not 
called an island when our worthy proprietor bought the islands in the river with the 
lower counties ; which I accordingly did. And, as a Jersey man informed me, he could 
or did, when a boy, wade all the way from Cooper's Point to it ; and now it is very 
shoal and stony all the way over, so that they claimed the right to it, till I bought it of a 
Jersey proprietor. Nevertheless, as our proprietors claim it, I am willing to pay them 
for it, if I can have the whole for what I dare venture to give." The wharfs having 
narrowed the western channel, and thrown an increased volume of water to the eastward 
of the island, it is now severed from the Jersey shore. It now is most generally called 
Smith's Island, from a man who purchased the Messenger of Peace, a Dutch vessel, 
which brought out the news of the treaty of Ghent. The vessel, being condemned, was 
run upon the northwest corner of the island, and turned into a pleasure-house, in which 
parties and dances were frequently held until 1841. In olden times the island was used 
as the place of execution for pirates. In 1798, three were hung there at one time, and 
were left some days on the gibbet, a terrible example to " all others in like cases offending." 
This island and bar being a great obstruction to the ferry navigation between Camden 
and Philadelphia, the legislature of Pennsylvania authorized a ferry company, incorpo- 
ted by New Jersey, to cut a canal through it. The work was begun in 1837, under the 
superintendence of Charles Loss, Esq., engineer of the Camden and Amboy railroad 
company, and of Joseph Kaighn, John W. Mickle, and Edwin A. Stevens, of the board 
of direction of the ferry company ; and was completed at a cost of about $40,000. It is 
now passable at all tides, and greatly facilitates the intercourse between the two sides 
of the river. 

Within the memory of those living, the whole locality of Cam- 
den was tilled as a farm, with but a few dwellings along the shore, 
occupied by ferrymen. Then, long lines of black-cherry and mul- 
berry trees stood in the highways, and numerous apple orchards 
allured the holyday and truant boys from Philadelphia. Towards 
the end of the last century, indeed, the eccentric William Cobbett 
and Matthew Carey fought a duel on a spot now the heart of the 
city, unperceived by any one but their seconds. Camden is exclu- 
sively the fruit of the nineteenth century, and her past growth 
warrants every hope from the future. It is even now a place of 
much business, — containing 17 mercantile stores, 5 churches, 
(Friends, Episcopalian, Baptist, and Methodist, — the latter having 
one house for the whites and another for the blacks,) a bank, 3 
newspapers, 8 hotels, 4 lumber-yards, and many mechanical and 
manufacturing establishments. There are several public gardens, 
resorted to, during the summer, by thousands from Philadelphia, — 
to which place there are 6 ferries, constantly plying, at low rates. 
A bridge from Camden to Philadelphia was talked of some 30 years 
ago, and Mr. Edward Sharp procured the necessary enactments 
from the two legislatures. A street a hundred feet wide was laid 
out as a starting-place in Camden, and was called Bridge Avenue. 
But the project failed for want of funds, and the avenue is now 
occupied by the Amboy Railroad. From Camden, roads diverge in 
all directions ; and it is the termination of two railways, — that 
from Amboy, of which we have spoken, and another from Wood- 
bury, the shire-town of Gloucester co. 

The following summary account of the death of Hutchinson 
Heberton by the hands of Singleton Mercer, (Feb. 10th, .1843,) is 
copied from the newspapers published at the time. Mercer was 
subsequently tried for murder at Woodbury, and acquitted : 



206 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

On Tuesday and Wednesday last, considerable talk was produced by the sudden dis- 
appearance of a young' and handsome girl, aged about 16, named Sarah Mercer, the 
daughter of Thomas Mercer, 33 Queen-st., one of the most wealthy and respectable in- 
habitants of Southwark. A young man of this city, named Hutchinson Hebcrton, was 
arrested on suspicion of being concerned in her abduction, and taken before Alderman 
Mitchell, at the instance of the girl's brother, who threatened him then with instant death 
if he refused, but was discharged in consequence of the girl's return to her parents on 
Wednesday evening. It was ascertained, however, that Heberton had seduced the 
young girl, and that she had gone to a vile house where he had been in the habit of 
meeting her. 

Miss Mercer's absence, as well as her return, according to all statements, was volun- 
tary. The anguish of the family at the .knowledge of the dishonor that had fallen upon 
the daughter, no tongue can tell nor pen describe. To wipe out the stain so far as it was 
possible so to do, a marriage was proposed to the seducer. This was declined on his 
part, and the brother of the seduced then challenged him. This was also declined. The 
infuriate brother, stung almost to madness, determined not to be baulked in his revenge. 
He watched the movements of Heberton, and having ascertained that he was to leave 
the city on Friday afternoon or evening in a carriage, by way of Camden, he managed 
to discover the same in the street, when he employed one of Vanselver's vehicles, driven 
by a young man, to whom Mercer gave instructions, pointing out the carriage, to lose 
sight of it on no condition, but keep close to it, and wherever it went to follow after it. 
In this carriage, in company with Heberton, was seated his legal friend and adviser, Jas. 
C. Vandyke, Esq., from whose office the deceased had left, with the avowed object of 
preventing a meeting with the misguided and excited Mercer. After having driven 
through several streets, the carriage entered the ferry-boat John Fitch, then lying at 
Market-st. wharf. Mercer, following after, leaped from his vehicle unobserved, and con- 
cealed himself behind a box on board the boat, armed with one of Colt's six-barrelled 
pistols. Shortly after, the carriage was driven on board with the blinds drawn up ; and 
when within a few yards of the Jersey shore, Mr. V. got out of the same, walked around, 
it is presumed, to see that all was safe, when Mercer approached the carriage and fired 
four balls into it in quick succession. One of them proved fatal, taking effect under the 
left shoulder-blade, and penetrated the heart. Heberton was conveyed to Cake's tavern, 
in Camden, where he expired in a few minutes. The murderer was immediately arrest- 
ed, and upon his person was found the pistol, two barrels of which still retained their 
charge. His conduct during the remainder of the evening is represented as having been 
wild and frantic, evidently laboring under the most intense excitement. 

The parties in the above lamentable drama are of the most wealthy and respectable 
character. Of the Mercers I have partly spoken ; and will only add, that the name of 
the murderer is Singleton Mercer — for the past two or three years a clerk in the store of 
Carson and Newbold, South Wharves — not yet twenty years of age — fond of society 
and the world. The murdered Hutchinson Heberton, was the son of the late Dr. Heb- 
erton, an estimable man, and who died possessed of great wealth. He is also related to 
the Messrs. Hebertons, merchants, Matthew Newkirk, and numerous other wealthy and 
respectable citizens. He was about 26 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches, and considered one 
of the handsomest young men in Philadelphia. He formerly wore a mustache, but had 
it shaved off on Wednesday last. He resided with his widowed mother, Ann Heberton, 
Ninth-st., near Arch, where his lifeless body was conveyed on Saturday afternoon 
about 4 o'clock. 

Young Mercer was taken, by the Sheriff of Gloucester co., to the Woodbury jail, to 
await his trial for the dreadful deed he has committed, about 1 o'clock yesterday, ac- 
companied by two cousins and an attorney. He appeared perfectly calm and collected. 



DEPTFORD. 

Deptford is about 7 m. long, 6 wide. Bounded NW. by the Dela- 
ware river, NE. by Union and Gloucester, SE. by Washington, and 
SW. by Greenwich. Its surface is undulating, soil well-cultivated 
and highly productive in fruit and vegetables. There are in the 
township, 5 woollen fac, 1 cotton fac. ; 3 fulling-m., 2 saw-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $32,900 ; 7 schools, 662 scholars. Pop. 2,570. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



207 



The first attempt to effect a settlement on the eastern shore of the Delaware, is be- 
lieved to have been made within the limits of this township. About the year 1621, the 
Dutch West India Company dispatched a ship containing a number of persons fully 
provided with the means of subsistence, and articles of trade, under the command of 
Cornelius Jacobse Mey. This navigator entered Delaware bay, and gave his own name 
to its northern cape. He explored the bay and river, and at length ianded and built a 
fort on Sassackon, now Timber creek, on the NE. boundary of the township, and named 
it Fort Nassau. "The spot is one of great interest. Perhaps no vestiges now remain 
to mark the place ; but it should be sought out and held in careful remembrance. The 
rocky shore at Plymouth has almost become a nation's shrine — multitudes meet there 
together, on each returning year, to offer the homage of grateful hearts to Him who 
guides the affairs of men. There are age and infancy — the man in his strength, and the 
maiden in her beauty and bloom ; a people are gathered as to one home, and a holy bond 
of brotherhood seems to encircle the whole. The spot upon the Delaware may not be so 
rich in interest. The chain connecting the events at that place with our present con- 
dition, may not be so perfect and entire. The actors were not our own people. But 
still, this was the first movement of civilized man upon our soil ; and we again say, let 
the place be held in remembrance."* 

" The site of old Fort Nassau is said to have been upon the farm of the Howell fam- 
ily, just below the mouth of Timber creek. The colonists soon fell beneath the toma- 
hawk of the Indians. They were induced on some pretence, it is said, to enter Cooper's 
creek, with their vessel, on board of which they were attacked at great disadvantage and 
murdered." 




View in Woodbury. 

Admonesson, 3 miles E. of Woodbury, contains a cotton factory 
with 1,200 spindles, 60 power-looms, and employs about 40 hands. 
There are about a dozen dwellings in the vicinity. Jobsville and 
Westville contain respectively a few dwellings. Woodbury, the 
seat of justice for Gloucester co., is pleasantly situated on Wood- 
bury creek, near the centre of the township, 9 m. S. of Philadel- 
phia, and 39 from Trenton. The annexed view was taken on the 
N. bank of the creek, near the residence of Mrs. Harriet Arm- 
strong ; on the left is shown the bridge over the stream, just be- 
yond which is the terminating point of the railroad from Camden. 
The large building, near the centre of the view, is the Friends 
meeting-house. The cupola of the courthouse is seen in the dis- 
tance. There are in Woodbury the county buildings, all brick, ex- 

* From the Historical Lecture delivered by Dr. Mulford, before the Camden Lyceum 
in the spring of 1842. 



208 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

cepting the prison, which is of stone ; 1 Friends meeting-house, 1 
Presbyterian church, (a large handsome brick structure,) a Meth- 
odist church, also of brick, 1 newspaper printing-office, 12 mercan- 
tile stores, 2 classical schools, an academy, 2 public libraries, sev- 
eral benevolent societies, 110 dwellings, and about 1,000 inhabit- 
ants. Several small vessels sail from here to Philadelphia with 
the produce of the country. The village is neatly built, and has 
many fine dwellings. In its vicinity are many fine orchards of ap- 
ples and plums. Woodbury was first settled in 1684, by Richard 
Wood, a native of Perry, in Lancashire, England. He had come 
over with the first settlers of Philadelphia. Leaving his family in 
that city, he ascended the creek in a canoe, and, with the aid of 
the Indians, erected a rude dwelling. The whole process of build- 
ing, and removing his family, was accomplished in the short space 
of one week. A brother shortly after arrived, and settling higher 
up the stream, named the locality Woodbury. 

It seems the little colony soon became short of provisions, and 
none being nearer than Burlington, the male colonists started off 
in canoes for that place to obtain some. A storm prevented their 
return as soon as expected — the provisions left for the women were 
exhausted — and the poor creatures, overwhelmed with grief, looked 
for nothing but starvation in a strange land, with none of their kin- 
dred near to sooth their dying moments. Thus were they grouped 
together at the bend of the creek, near where the graveyard now 
is, watching, with tearful eyes, the flowing tide, and listening in 
vain for the sound of the returning paddles, when an Indian wo- 
man appeared on the opposite bank, saw they were in trouble, and 
stopped. By their signs, she understood their wants, and then dis- 
appeared in the shade of the forest. In an hour or two, (for she 
had gone several miles,) she returned, loaded with venison and 
corn bread. These she placed on a long piece of bark, and, walk- 
ing a good way to tide ward, set it afloat, and gave it a push across. 
It came to where the white women were, and its contents saved 
their lives ; for their husbands returned not until such a length of 
time, that, but for her, starvation would have been inevitable. 

Lord Cornwallis was stationed in Woodbury, in the winter of 
1777, with a body of British troops. His head-quarters were in the 
dwelling now owned and occupied by Amos Campbell, Esq. It had 
been vacated on the approach of the enemy. The soldiers pried 
open the doors and cupboards with their bayonets, marks of which 
remain to the present day. The following anecdote illustrates the 
generosity of disposition of this officer. Some of the soldiers seized 
upon a valuable cow belonging to a strong whig, who called upon 
his lordship and requested the restoration of his property. Corn- 
wallis questioned the man upon his political principles. He en- 
deavored, though unsuccessfully, to conceal them. Soon after his 
arrival at home, the animal was returned to him. The lamented 
Capt. James Lawrence, of the U. S. navy, was once a student at 
the village academy, and resided with his brother John Lawrence, 






GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 209 

Esq. He is remembered as an amiable youth, quiet in manner, and 
genteel in person. 

County Records. — The oldest book of records in the Clerk's office of the county ex- 
tend from 1686 to 1712, embracing a period of 26 years. The courts were intended to 
be holden at Gloucester and Red Bank alternately, but for some reason not explained by 
the records, the latter place was soon abandoned ; probably on account of the inconveni- 
ence of the location. Four or five county justices were generally in attendance, forming 
the bench. The courts of March and Dec, 1692, and Sept. 1694, were presided over by 
Edward Hunloke, deputy governor, in person. Sept. 1698, the Hon. Jeremiah Bass, 
governor, was present ; and in March, 1700, the Hon. Andrew Hamilton, governor, pre- 
sided. Bass appears to have been decidedly unpopular — officers and jurors could scarce- 
ly be procured — and the courts under his administration did little more than meet and 
adjourn. Hamilton, on the contrary, was a general favorite — six magistrates sat with 
him, when in the county — some of the most respectable and extensive families in the 
county can claim members of that tribunal for their ancestry. The minutes of a court 
held in June, 1703, concludes thus : " Here ends the Proprietary Government of ye Pro- 
vince of West New Jarsie, in America." Allegiance to the crown is acknowledged at 
the conclusion of every court afterwards, by inserting the phrase " God save the Queen." 
(The proceedings of the next court, after the Declaration of Independence was issued, 
prove that a disposition to alter the phraseology very materially was predominant. In 
this instance " God save the People" brings up the rear ; and the worthy recorder ap- 
pears to have entertained no conscientious scruples about the waste of ink.) 

The first tax that was levied was for defraying county expenses, in 1697. Provincial 
taxes commenced in 1692. The first ferry to Philadelphia was from Gloucester ; appli- 
cation for the keeping of one was granted by the court to William Royden, in 1687 ; 
the next application was for one ovei Gloucester river, (Timber creek,) in 1693, which 
was granted ; in 1695, applications for the present middle ferrry at Camden, and from 
Gloucester to Wickaco (Greenwich Point,) were granted ; the first to Daniel Cooper, the 
other to John Reading: the court established the rates. John Champion was authorized 
to establish a ferry over Cooper's creek in 1702. A wolf bounty was established in 1688 ; 
and in the following year a direct tax was laid for'defraying the expenses incurred there- 
by. Panthers appear to have been included. The county was first divided into town- 
ships, or constablewicks, in 1694, according to an act of assembly. Waterford, New- 
ton, Gloucester, Deptford, and Greenwich, were the original townships. 

At the court held in Dec, 1695, it was ordered, " That a prison be, with all convenient 
expedition, built, 16 feet long, 12 feet wide in the clear, and 8 foot high ; to be made of 
loggs, with a floor of loggs above and below, covered with cedar shingles, and a parti- 
tion in the middle." A modification of the above order was made at the next court. 
The dimensions were altered to 20 by 16 feet ; also a " courthouse over the same, of a 
convenient height and largeness, covered of and with cedar shingles, well and workman- 
like to be made, and with all convenient expedition finished." In 1708, an addition was 
ordered upon the following plan : " That it join to the south end of the old one ; to be 
made of stone and brick, 12 foot in the clear, and 2 story high, with a stack of chimneys 
joining to the old house ; and that it be uniform in breadth to the courthouse from the 
foundation." Sept. 1690, two prisoners were convicted of burglary : the sentence was, 
that they should be burnt in the hand to the bone with the letter T, or be sold to the 
master of some vessel in Barbadocs, Jamaica, or other adjacent island, for the term of 
5 years. Both chose transportation. Licenses for houses of entertainment were first 
granted in 1692 ; three were applied for — all in the town of Gloucester. Dec. 1693, 
Richard Whitaker was tried, and found guilty of selling rum to the Indians, contrary 
to the laws of the province. Sentenced to pay £3, with costs of suit. March, 1700, 
the court ordered that such assemblymen as require pay, receive 3 shillings per day for 
each day's service, with allowance for one day going up, and another day coming down. 
In 1706, William Leak, of Egg Harbor, was fined ill 10s. 6rf. for contempt of authority. 

Fort Mercer is on the Delaware, within the limits of this town- 
ship, and Fort Mifflin on an island in the river ; distant a little 
over 1 mile. These fortresses were scenes of important military 
operations in the fall of 1777, just after the British troops had ta- 
ken possession of Philadelphia. 

The fortification at Red Bank was little more than an embank- 

27 



210 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



ment of earth and a ditch filled with brush and sharpened timber. 
We annex the account of the attack on Fort Mercer, given by the 
Marquis de Chastellux in his " Travels in North America." This 



PLAN 

Of Fort Mercer, at Red Bank, N. J* 



REFERENCES. 

A End of the fort at which the Hessians 
entered. 

B Small ditch, cross embankment and lo- 
cation of the masked battery. 

C Remains of the hickory-tree used during 
the battle as a flag-staff. 

D Ruins of a brick wall in the middle of 
the artificial bank. — Gateway. 

E Count Donop's grave. 

F Louis Whitall's house. 

G Monument, erected in 1829. 

H Pleasure-house. 

I Marks of the trenches in which the slain 
were deposited. 

K Road the Hessians marched to the at- 
tack. — Reeve's old road. 

L Tenant house. 

M Road to Woodbury. 

N Direction of Fort Mifflin. 

O Farm road. 

Note. — The works represented extend 

about 350 yards in a right line. 



gentleman was a major-general in the army of Count Rochambeau. 
He visited the place in company with Lafayette and M. du Plessis 
Mauduit. His very interesting narration of the action is related 
with military perspicuity. 

Our conductor was M. du Plessis Mauduit, who, in the double capacity of engineer 
and officer oi" artillery, had the charge of arranging and defending this post, under the 
orders of Col. Greene. 

We had not gone a hundred yards before we came to a small elevation, on which a 
stone was vertically placed, with this short epitaph : " Here lies buried Col. Donop."t 
M. de Mauduit could not refrain from expressing his regret for this brave man, who died 
in his arms two days after the action. He assured us that we could not make a step 
without treading on the remains of some Hessians, — for near 300 were buried in the 
front of the ditch. 




* The compilers are indebted to Messrs. T. S. & E. Saunders, of Woodbury, for the 
plan of Fort Mercer, made by them from actual survey, for this work, in April, 1842. 

t Count Donop's remains have lately been disinterred and scattered abroad as relics, 
to gratify an uncommendable curiosity. — Compilers His. Coll. of N. J. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 211 

The fort of Redbank was designed, as I have said above, to support the left of the 
chevaux-de-frize. The bank of the Delaware, at this place, is steep ; but even this 
steepness allowed the enemy to approach the fort undercover, and without being exposed 
to the fire of the batteries. To remedy this inconvenience, several galleys, armed with 
cannon, and destined to defend the chevaux-de-frize, were posted the whole length of the 
escarpement, and took it in reverse. The Americans, little practised in the art of forti- 
fications, and always disposed to take works beyond their strength, had made those of 
Redbank too extensive. When M. de Mauduit obtained permission to be sent thither 
with Col. Greene, he immediately set about reducing the fortifications, by intersecting 
them from east to west, — which transformed them into a sort of large redoubt, nearly 
of a pentagonal form. A good earthen rampart raised to the height of the cordon, a 
fosse", and an abattis in front of the fosse, constituted the whole strength of this post, — 
in which were placed three hundred men,* and fourteen pieces of cannon. The 22d of 
October, in the morning, they received intelligence that a detachment of 2,500 Hessians 
were advancing, — who were soon after perceived on the edge of a wood to the north of 
Redbank, nearly within cannon shot. Preparations were making for the defence, when 
a Hessian officer advanced, preceded by a drum. He was suffered to approach ; but his 
harangue was so insolent, that it only served to irritate the garrison, and inspire them 
with more resolution. " The King of England," said he, " orders his rebellious sub- 
jects to lay down their arms; and they are warned, that if they stand the battle, no 
quarters whatever will be given." The answer was, that they accepted the challenge, 
and that there should be no quarter on either side. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the 
Hessians made a very brisk fire from a battery of cannon ; and soon after, they opened, 
and marched to the first intrenchment, — from which (finding it abandoned but not de- 
stroyed) they imagined they had driven the Americans. They then shouted victoria, 
waved their hats in the air, and advanced towards the redoubt. The same drummer 
who a few hours before had come to summon the garrison, and had appeared as insolent 
as his officer, was at their head, beating the march. Both he and that officer were 
knocked on the head by the first fire. The Hessians, however, still kept advancing 
within the first intrenchment, leaving the river on their right. They had already reached 
the abattis, and were endeavoring to tear up or cut away the branches, when they were 
overwhelmed with a shower of musket shot, which took them in front and in flank ; for, 
as chance would have it, a part of the courtinc of the old intrenchment, which had not 
been destroyed, formed a projection at this very part of the intersection. M. de Mauduit 
had contrived to form it into a sort of caponiere, (or trench with loop-holes,) into which 
he threw some men, who flanked the enemy's left, and fired on them at close shot. Of- 
ficers were seen every moment rallying their men, marching back to the abattis, and fall- 
ing amidst the branches they were endeavoring to cut. Col. Donop was particularly 
distinguished by the marks of the order he wore, by his handsome figure, and by his 
courage. He was also seen to fall like the rest. The Hessians, repulsed by the fire of 
the redoubt, attempted to secure themselves from it by attacking on the side of the es- 
carpement ; but the fire from the galleys sent them back, with a great loss of men. At 
length they relinquished the attack, and regained the wood in disorder. 

While this was passing on the north side, another column made an attack on the 
south, and, more fortunate than the other, passed the abattis, traversed the fosse, and 
mounted the berm ; but they were stopped by the fraises, and M. de Mauduit running to 
this post as soon as he saw the first assailants give way, the others were obliged to follow 
their example. They still did not dare, however, to stir out of the fort, fearing a sur- 
prise ; but M. de Mauduit wishing to replace some palisades which had been torn up, he 
sallied out with a few men, and was surprised to find about twenty Hessians standing on 
the berm, and stuck up against the shelving of the parapet. These soldiers, who had 
been bold enough to advance thus far, — sensible that there was more risk in returning, 
and not thinking proper to expose themselves, — were taken and brought into the fort. 
M. dc Mauduit, after fixing the palisades, employed himself in repairing the abattis. He 
again sallied out with a detachment ; and it was then he beheld the deplorable spectacle 
of the dead and dying, heaped one upon another. A voice arose from amidst these car- 
cases, and said, in English, " Whoever you are, draw me hence." It was the voice of 
Col. Donop. M. de Mauduit made the soldiers lift him up, and carry him into the fort, 

* This corps were from Rhode Island, and were under the command of Col. Christo- 
pher Greene. A great portion of them were negroes and mulattoes, and the whole in a 
ragged, destitute condition ; but the fire of patriotism glowing within, rendered them com- 
paratively indifferent to their personal sufferings. — Compilers His. Coll. of N. J. 






212 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



where he was soon known. He had his hip broken ; but whether they did not consider 
his wound as mortal, or that they were heated by the battle, and still irritated at the 
menaces thrown out against them a few hours before, the Americans could not help say- 
ing, aloud, " Well ! is it determined to give no quarter ?" " I am in your hands," re- 
plied the colonel : "you may revenge yourselves." M. de Mauduit had no difficulty in 
imposing silence, and employed himself only in taking care of the wounded officer. The 
latter, perceiving he spoke bad English, said to him, — " You appear to me a foreigner, 
sir : who are you ?" " A French officer," replied the other. " Je suis content," said 
Donop, making use of our language : "je meurs entre les mains de I'honneur meme." 
[I am content : I die in the hands of honor itself.] The next day he was removed to 
the Quaker's house, where he lived three days, during which he conversed frequently 
with M. de Mauduit. He told him that he had been long in friendship with M. de Saint 
Germain ; that he wished, in dying, to recommend to him his vanquisher and benefactor. 
He asked for paper, and wrote a letter, which he delivered to M. de Mauduit, — requiring 
of him, as the last favor, to acquaint him when he was about to die. The latter was 
soon under the necessity of acquitting himself of this sad duty. " It is finishing a noble 
career early," said the colonel ; " but I die the victim of my ambition, and of the avarice 
of my sovereign." 

Fifteen wounded officers were found, like him, upon the field of battle. M. de Mau 
duit had the satisfaction to conduct them himself to Philadelphia, where he was very 
well received by Gen. Howe. 




Red Bank, from the Delaware River. 

An eye-witness, who the next day saw the Americans burying 
the bodies of Donop's men, testifies that some of them were perfo- 
rated with wads, and others literally blown to pieces with shot — so 
near were they to the fatal muzzles. Many of the wounded Hes- 
sians were carried to the Whitall house, and those that died buried 
in the vicinity. 

The bravery of the men, in this action, was equalled by the hero- 
ism of Mrs. Whitall. This lady, it is said, sat a spinning in the 
first house below the battle-ground during the conflict, until a can- 
non-ball, whistling through the entry, induced her to take her 
wheel into the cellar, where she continued to spin undisturbedly 
through the whole engagement, although the dwelling was struck 
several times by the shot from the British fleet playing on Fort 
Mercer. 

" Only 32 Americans were killed, and many of these by the 
bursting of one of their cannon.* A sword was voted by Congress 
to Col. Greene, as a testimonial of his valor, — which, after the war, 
was presented to his family, when he was no longer living to receive 

* This piece is now in the vicinity, within one third of a mile of the fort. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 213 

it. He was, some time in the war, basely murdered by a band of 
refugees. Attacked in his quarters, his single arm laid several 
dead at his feet, when, overpowered by numbers, and having 
fought until the flesh was literally hacked from his bones, he fell a 
victim to their barbarity." 

In commemoration of the battle of Red Bank, a handsome monu- 
ment of gray marble has been erected just N. of the pleasure-house, 
bearing the following inscription : 



This Monument was erected on the 22d October, 1829, to 
transmit to posterity a grateful remembrance of the patriot- 
ism and gallantry of Lieut. Col. Christopher Greene, who, 
with 400 men, conquered the Hessian army of 2,000 troops, 
then in the British service, at the Red Bank, on the 22d Oct., 
1777. Among the wounded was found their commander, 
Count Donop, who died of his wounds, and whose body is 
interred near the spot where he fell. A number of the New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania volunteers, being desirous to per- 
petuate the memory of the distinguished officers and soldiers 
who fought and bled in the glorious struggle for American 
Independence, have erected this monument on the 22d day 
of October, Anno Domini 1829. 



" Fort Mifflin," says a late traveller,* " is still garrisoned with U. 
S. troops. The line of the embankment at Fort Mercer is yet 
plainly seen ; and the place is now, as in the hour of our country's 
peril, covered with a gloomy pine forest. Towards the close of a 
fine afternoon I visited the battle-ground. Here and there a sail 
dotted the Delaware, which lay calmly before me. A few solitary 
fishermen were pursuing their accustomed avocations upon the 
shore below the bank, and it seemed as though this secluded spot 
had ever been the abode of peace. I lingered until the shades of 
evening began to darken the distant landscape and enshroud the 
forest in gloom. The fishermen had gathered their nets, and re- 
tired to their humble homes ; and I was left alone, with no com- 
panions but my thoughts, and nothing to disturb save the gentle 
rippling of the waves upon the smooth pebbly beach. With reflec- 
tions suggested by the occasion, I was slowly departing, when the 
distant roll of a drum from Fort Mifflin, summoning the soldiers to 
evening parade, was borne on the still air across the intervening 
waters, reminding me that war's dreadful trade was not over, — 
that the time had not come ' when the lion and the lamb should lie 
down together,' and all nations dwell in peace." 



FRANKLIN. 

Franklin was formed from Woolwich and Greenwich in 1820. 
It is 15 miles long, 6i wide ; bounded NE. by Washington, SE. by 

* From " Historical and Descriptive Letters on New Jersey," by the junior com- 
piler of this work. 



214 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

Hamilton, Atlantic co., SW- by Pittsgrove, Salem co., and Millville, 
Cumberland co., and NW. by Woolwich and Greenwich. Its sur- 
face is level ; soil light, and a greater part of the township is cov- 
ered with pines. There are in the township 4 glass-houses, 5 stores, 
2 grist-m., 8 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. #82,000 ; 7 schools, 535 
scholars. Pop. 2,077. 

Glassboro is about ten miles SE. of Woodbury, in the NW. cor- 
ner of the township, in a pine country. This village was settled 
during the American revolution, by Stangeer & Co., seven brothers, 
who built some log dwellings, and established a glass factory, which 
stood about fifty rods E. of the site of the present tavern. They 
were originally from Germany, and had just previously been em- 
ployed in Wistar's glass-house in Salem co., the first of the kind es- 
tablished in North America. Glassboro is an improving place, and 
land has trebled in value within a few years by the use of marl, 
lime, and ashes. It contains extensive glass-works now in opera- 
tion, and owned by Thomas H. Whitney, Esq. ; 2 Methodist and 1 
Episcopal church, an academy, 2 stores, 100 dwellings, and about 
600 inhabitants. Franklinville, formerly Little Ease, 6 miles SE. 
of Glassboro, contains a fine hotel, a saw-mill, a few mechanics, 
and about a dozen dwellings. Malaga, at the angle of Gloucester, 
Cumberland, and Salem counties, on the head-waters of Maurice 
river, contains a tavern, glass factory, saw-mill, Methodist church, 
and about 35 dwellings. 

Gloucester Fox-Hunting Club. A famous club for the purposes 
of. hunting in this county, bearing the above title, was established 
in 1776, and continued in existence until the year 1818. It ranked 
among its members some of the first gentlemen in this county and 
Philadelphia. The revolutionary war for a time put a stop to the 
affairs of the chase, when no less than twenty-two of its members 
associated and formed the " First Troop of Philadelphia City Cav- 
alry," its president, Samuel Morris, captain, nearly all of whom 
faithfully served in the troop in the memorable campaigns of '76 
and '77. The war completely ended, the club was revived, after 
years of separation, to course again over the pines and plains of 
Gloucester county, in the exhilarating pleasures of the chase. 

The hunts, says the author of the memoirs of the club,* took place principally at 
Cooper's creek, at the Horseheads, Blackwood-town, Heston's glass-works, and some- 
times at Thompson's Point, on the Delaware, many miles to the south. The chase usu- 
ally lasted from one to five or six hours, and sometimes in hot pursuit has been made 
for eight or ten, after an old, straight-forward, fleet-running Red Jacket, consequently 
coursing over a vast extent of country. It is needless to note how many in such emer- 
gencies would give up the chase, or be lost sight of, and completely thrown out. In 
1798, one of them carried the pack in full cry to iSalem, forty miles distant. In olden 
times, good hunts were made to view on the sea-beach at Egg Harbor. This change ol 
position had the advantage of novelty, and afforded fine shooting in variety and abun- 
dance. The increase of the mischievous crew of the Reynard family in Gloucester 
afforded plenty of sport. The stock-suffering farmer hailed the hounds and huntsmen 
as friends, free to enter his enclosures and traverse his fields and woods unmolested, 

* Published at Philadelphia in 1830, an octavo of 56 pages. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 215 

from the 10th of October until the 10th of April, at which period the fences were re- 
paired, and the ground tilled. Often have we seen him, on hearing the music of the 
dogs, hastily bridle his horse and mount him, frequently without a saddle, and gallop 
after and joyfully augment the merry hunting train. It sometimes occurred, that they 
were eminently useful aids ; serving as guides through the intricate labyrinths of the 
woods and swamps, to ferret out Reynard's usual haunts and retreats, and when earthed, 
to procure of some obliging neighbor the necessary implements, of an axe, pick, and 
spade, accustomed to the use of which, they actively and efficiently assisted to dig for 
and capture the enemy in his den, generally excavated on the declivity of a hill with a 
southern exposure, for secure and comfortable winter-quarters. 

Sometimes this intense fatigue-duty continued by spells for hours, and labor occa- 
sionally found ample reward ; not in the game she captured, but in peals of loud laugh- 
ter and mirth, especially at the last industrious diggers, on the taking of a skunk or a 
ground-hog ; when this happened, there was no generous contention or rivalry for the 
brush ; the first-named personage, we are told, on a memorable occasion in 1805, freely 
offered the compliment of his tail to all within shooting range, hunters and dogs, until 
he liberally and fairly exhausted the contents of his odoriferous sack or magazine. 

Among the most valuable members of the club was Jonas Cattell. This extraordina- 
ry hunter was over six feet in height, and very athletic. Although always on foot, he 
appeared altogether tireless, when the riders' horses and hounds were jaded. He once 
beat an Indian runner in a trial of speed. On another occasion, on a wager, he went 
on foot from Woodbury to Cape Island, a distance of about 80 miles, in one day, deliv- 
ered a letter, and returned the next with an answer. Old Jonas is or was lately living 
in this county ; but the club, after an existence of over half a century, is no more. 



GLOUCESTER. 

Gloucester is 18 miles long, with an average width of 5 miles. 
It is bounded NE. by Waterford, SE. by Mullica and Hamilton, 
Atlantic co. ; SW. by Washington and Deptford, and NW. by 
Union. The soil is light, and the surface generally covered with 
pines, excepting in the western part, where are some fine farms, 
productive in fruit and vegetables. There are 13 stores, 4 glass 
factories, 2 flouring-m., 3 grist-m., 1 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$77,650; 10 schools, 298 scholars. Pop. 2,837. 

Chew's Landing, on a branch of Big Timber creek, 5 miles E. of 
"Woodbury, at which place large quantities of cord- wood and timber 
are shipped, contains 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist church, and about 
40 dwellings. Long-a-coming, on the N. line of the township, 15 
miles from Camden, is situated among the pines, and contains 2 
hotels, 4 stores, a Methodist church, and about 40 dwellings. 
Blackwoodtown is a flourishing village on the south branch of Big 
Timber creek, 6 miles SE. of Woodbury. It contains 1 Presbyte- 
rian, 1 Methodist church, a grist and saw mill, 3 stores, and about 
70 dwellings. Good Intent factory is an extensive woollen factory 
near this village. Windslow, is in the SE. corner of the township, 
on the Great Egg Harbor road, and contains a Methodist church, 
3 glass factories, owned and conducted by William Coffin, Esq., and 
50 or 60 dwellings. Clementon, in the W. part of the township, 
has a grist and saw mill, a tavern, and about 15 dwellings. At 
this place formerly were in operation glass-works for the manu- 
facture of hollow glass-ware. Seven Causeways, in the south 
part of the township, where seven roads meet, contains a meeting- 



216 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



house, a store, about 12 dwellings, and glass-works, now discontin- 
ued. New Freedom, Blue Anchor, and Tansboro, which are mark- 
ed on Gordon's map, contain one or more dwellings. 



GREENWICH. 

Greenwich is about 12 miles long, 5 wide; bounded NE. by 
Deptford and Washington, SE. by Franklin, SW. by Woolwich, 
and NW. by the Delaware river. Its surface is level or undula- 
ting : soil light and fertile. There are in the township 12 stores, 4 
gui^s lactones, 2 nourmg>m., .3 grist-m., J i saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. $7 /,650 ; 9 schools, 293 scholars. Pop. 2,95?. 




Central View at Mullica Hill 

Mullica Hill is situated on gentle eminences on both sides of 
Raccoon creek, partly in this and partly in Woolwich township, 8 
miles SE. of Woodbury. It derives its name from Erick Mullica, 
a Swede, who emigrated when a young man, and purchased here 
a considerable tract of land. This was at an early period, when 
the whole country was an unbroken forest. He lived to the age of 
about 100 years. His dwelling stood on the N. side of the creek, 
in or near the orchard of Mr. Joseph Doran. Originally, the name 
of Mullica Hill was given only to that portion of the village N. of 
the creek. The other part was called Spicersville, from Jacob 
Spicer, an emigrant from East Jersey, who settled here, and built 
the first dwelling erected on the S. side of Raccoon creek. The an- 
nexed is a view in the southern, and by far the most populous, por- 
tion of the village, taken near Mrs. Wood's tavern, in the town- 
ship of Woolwich. On the extreme left is shown the Friends 
meeting-house ; and in the distance the principal stores, shops, etc., 
in the place. There are at Mullica Hill 2 taverns, several mechan- 
ic shops and stores, 1 grist-m., 1 woollen factory, a tannery, 1 Epis- 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 217 

copal, 1 Methodist church, a Friends meeting-house, an academy, 
about 60 dwellings, and upwards of 300 inhabitants. Large 
quantities of lime are burnt near this place : marl of an excellent 
quality abounds in the vicinity, and under its genial influence the 
land yields heavy crops. 

The following villages are on or near the NE. line of the town- 
ship. Barnesboro contains 16 dwellings. Carpenter's Landing, 
named from Mr. Thomas Carpenter, now an aged resident, is on 
Mantua creek, and has 4 stores, a Methodist church, and about 50 
dwellings. From this place large quantities of lumber and wood 
are annually shipped to Philadelphia. Berkeley, or Sandtown, has 
a store, and about 12 dwellings. Paulsboro contains a store, a 
Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. Billingsport, on the 
Delaware river, contains a few dwellings. It was named after Ed- 
ward Byllinge, the purchaser of Lord Berkeley's undivided moiety 
of the province. The remains of a fort are still to be seen, which 
was built by the Americans in the revolutionary war. It was con- 
structed, with other works on the river, for the purpose of prevent- 
ing the enemy's fleet from communicating with Philadelphia, then 
in possession of the British. This fort was evacuated by the 
Americans in the fall of 1777. The following particulars of this 
event are derived from Botta's History of the War. 

The English well knew the importance of opening for themselves a free communi- 
cation with the sea, by means of the Delaware, since their operations could never be con- 
sidered secure, so long as the enemy should maintain themselves upon the banks of that 
river; and accordingly they deliberated upon the means of reducing them. Immediate- 
ly after the success at Brandywine, Lord Howe, who commanded the whole fleet, had 
made sail for the mouth of the Delaware ; and several light vessels had already arrived 
in that river ; among others the Roebuck, commanded by Capt. Hammond. That offi- 
cer represented to Gen. Howe, that if sufficient forces were sent to attack the fort at 
Billings Point, on the Jersey shore, it might be taken without difficulty ; and that he 
would then take upon himself to open a passage through the chevaux-dc-frise. The 
general approved this object, and sent two regiments, under Col. Stirling, to carry it into 
effect. The detachment having crossed the river from Chester, the moment they had set 
foot upon the Jersey shore, marched with all speed to attack the fort in rear. The 
Americans, not thinking themselves able to sustain the enemy's assault, immediately 
spiked their artillery, set fire to the barracks, and abandoned the place with precipitation. 
The English waited to destroy, or to render unserviceable, those parts of the works whicli 
fronted the river ; and this success, with the spirit and perseverance exhibited by the of- 
ficers and crews of the ships under his command, enabled Hammond, through great dif- 
ficulties, to carry the principal object of the expedition into effect, by cutting away and 
weighing up so much of the chevaux-de-frise as opened a narrow passage for the ship- 
ping through this lower barrier. 



NEWTON. 

This township is about 6 m. long, 3 wide ; bounded N. and E. by 
Waterford, S. and SW. by Union, and W. by Delaware river and 
Camden. Its surface is level, and the soil, though light, is produc- 
tive, and well adapted to grain and grass. There are in the town- 
ship 9 stores, 1 fulling-m., 1 woollen fac, 1 pottery, 3 grist-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $21,190; 3 academies, 155 students; 5 schools, 245 
scholars. Pop. 1,863. 

28 



218 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

It was early settled by Friends. The following history was writ- 
ten by Thomas Sharp, the first conveyancer and surveyor in Glou- 
cester co. : — 

Let it be remembered. It having wrought upon ye minds of some Friends that dwelt 
in Ireland, but such as formerly came thither from England ; and a pressure having laid 
upon them for some years which they could not gett from under the weight of untill they 
gave upp to leave their friends and relations there, together with a comfortable subsist, 
ence, to transport themselves and famelys into this wilderness part of America, and there, 
by expose themselves to difficulties, which, if they could have been easy where they were, 
in all probability might never have been met with ; and in order thereunto, sent from 
Dublin in Ireland, to one Thomas Lurtin, a friend in London, commander of a pink, 
who accordingly came, and made an agreement with him to transport them and their 
famelys into New Jersey, viz. : Mark Newby and famely, Thomas Thackara and famely, 
William Bate and famely, George Goldsmith an old man, and Thomas Sharp a young 
man, but no famelys ; and whilst the ship abode in Dublin harbor provideing for the voy- 
age, said Thomas Lurtin was taken so ill that he could not perform ye same, so that his 
mate, John Dagger, undertook it. And upon the 19th day of September, in the year of 
our Lord, 1(381, we sett saile from the place aforesaid, and through the good providence 
of God towards us, we arrived at Elsinburg, in the county of Salem, upon the 19th day 
of November following, where we were well entertained at the houses of the Thomsons, 
who came from Ireland about four years before, who, by their industry, were arrived to a 
very good degree of living, and from thence we went to Salem, where were several 
houses yt were vacant of persons who had left the town to settle in ye country, which 
served to accommodate them for ye winter, and having thus settled down their famelys, 
and the winter proving moderate, wc at Wickacoa, among us, purchased a boate of the 
Swansons, and so went to Burlington to the commissioners, of whom we obtained a 
warrant of ye surveyor- general, which then was Daniel Leeds; and after some consid- 
erable search to and fro in that then was called the third or Irish tenth, we at last 
pitched upon the place now called Newton, which was before the settlement of Philadel- 
phia ; and then applied to s'd surveyor, who came and laid it out for us ; and the next 
spring, being the beginning of the year 1682, we all removed from Salem together with 
Robert Zane, that had been settled there, who came along from Ireland with the Thom- 
sons before hinted, and having expectation of our coming only bought a lott in Salem 
town, upon the which he seated himself untill our coming, whose proprietary right and 
ours being of the same nature, could not then take it up in Fenwick's tenth, and so be- 
gan our settlement ; and although we were at times pretty hard bestead, having all our 
provisions as far as Salem to fetch by water, yett, through the mercy and kindness of 
God, we were preserved in health and from any extream difficulties. And immediately 
there was a meeting sett upp and kept at the house of Mark Newby, and, in a short time, 
it grew and increased, unto which William Cooper and famely, that lived at the Poynte 
resorted, and sometimes the meeting was kept at his house, who had been settled some 
time before. 

Zeall and fervency of spirit was what, in some degree, at that time abounded among 
Friends, in commemoration of our prosperous success and eminent preservation, boath 
in our coming over the great deep, as allso that whereas we were but few at that time, 
and the Indians many, whereby itt putt a dread upon our spirits, considering they were 
a salvage people ; but ye Lord, that hath the hearts of all in his hands, turned them so 
as to be serviceable to us, and very loving and kinde ; which cannot be otherwise ac- 
counted but to be the Lord's doings in our favor, which we had cause to praise his name 
for. And that the rising generation may consider that the settlement of this country 
was directed by an impulse upon the spiritts of God's people, not so much for their ease 
and tranquillity, but rather for the posterity yt should be after, and that the wilderness 
being planted with a good seed, might grow and increase to the satisfaction of the good 
husbandman. But instead thereof, if for wheat it should bring forth tares, the end of the 
good husbandman will be frustrate, and they themselves will suffer loss. This narration 
I have thought good and requisite to leave behind, as having had knowledge of tilings 
from the beginning. 

Haddonfield is situated on the south side of Cooper's creek, 5 m. 
SE. of Camden. The village is principally built on a single street, 
ornamented by shade-trees. It consists of about 150 dwellings, 4 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



219 



houses for public worship, 1 for Friends, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 
1 Episcopal, 5 mercantile stores, 2 grist-m., 2 tanneries, and a large 
woollen factory. The annexed engraving represents the Friends 
meeting-house, situated in the central part of the village. The 
Baptist church was erected in 1818, the Methodist in 1835; both 




Friends Meeting-house, Haddonfield. 

these houses are substantial brick edifices. The Episcopal church 
now (1842) erecting, is of wood. The first house of worship erect- 
ed in this township was for Friends. It was built about the year 
1690, on what is now called the Collins road, about 2\ miles SW. 
of Haddonfield. This house was removed about 30 years since, 
and the one near Camden line erected. The village of Haddon- 
field derives its name from the family of John Haddon, who pur- 
chased about 400 acres of land at this place, about the year 1710. 

Having no sons, he sent his daughter Elizabeth, a young woman about 20 years of 
age, to make a settlement on the land, build a house, &c, under an expectation that he 
would remove himself and family to the place after the settlement was made. She built 
a large brick house on the premises, in the year 1713, and the great road or king's high- 
way being laid out through the land from Burlington to Salem, on which a town began 
to be built. Some years afterwards, she married a distinguished Quaker preacher from 
England, whose name was John Haddon, whom she survived a number of years ; they 
had no children, and she returned to England and adopted one of her sister's sons, named 
Ebenezer Hopkins, whom she brought over with her, with an intention of making him 
her heir. He married in this country a woman named Sarah Lord, and had a number 
of children, and died a young man long before his aunt Estaugh, who left all the estate 
intended for him amongst his children. 

During the war of the revolution, Haddonfield had become a place of some note, and 
the inhabitants were mostly, if not altogether, sound whigs ; and being of the Quaker 
persuasion, they were not found fighting under the banners of carnal warfare. A guard- 
house was kept by the Americans, on the premises of Wra, Griscomb ; and the British 
army marching through, set fire to the building, and destroyed the house of Mr. Gris- 
comb* and the adjoining one belonging to Thomas Redman, they being both Friends or 

* In front of Capt. James B. Cooper's dwelling is a button-wood tree, which was stand- 
ing at the time these buildings were destroyed. The body of it was burnt out, and a large 
cavity left, which was used after the war by children for a playhouse. The bark has 
now grown around it, and the tree is in a flourishing condition. 

Haddonfield was successively occupied by the American and British troops. Among 



220 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

Quakers. A great deal of their furniture was destroyed, as well as their houses, hut 
no lives lost. The British quartered their soldiers on the inhabitants of the village and 
vicinity for several days, and made great destruction of the fences for fuel, so that the 
inhabitants were truly eaten out of house and home. The congress sat for several weeks 
in Haddonfield, during the war, in the house built by Matthias Aspden, and boarded 
about among the inhabitants. 

The first Friends meeting-house was built about the year 1720, and the present meet- 
ing-house was built in the year 1760, on the same site. 

The house built by Elizabeth Haddon stood about a third of a 
mile from the centre of the village, back from the Camden road 
about 30 rods. It was built of brick and boards brought from Eng- 
land, and had upon it the date " 1713." It was accidentally de- 
stroyed by lire, April 19th, 1842. 



UNION. 

Union is about 6 miles long, and 2\ broad ; bounded N. by New- 
ton, E. by Waterford, SE. by Gloucester, SW. by Deptford, and 
W. by the Delaware river. The surface is generally level, and the 
soil highly productive in corn, wheat, grass, and vegetables. There 
are 3 schools, 105 scholars. Pop. 1,074. There are two small 
villages in the township, viz. : Mount Ephraim, 5 miles SE. of Cam- 
den, and Gloucester Point, 3 miles below Camden, on the Dela- 
ware, where there is a ferry. 

The land (says Mulford, in his lecture) between Timber creek 
and the Rancocus was sold Sept. 10th, 1077, to John Kinsey and 
others, from London, by Katamus, Sekappio, and three other In- 
dian chiefs, for thirty guns, thirty axes, thirty small hoes, thirty 
awls, thirty jewsharps, a hundred fishhooks, seven anchors of 
brandy, &c. This purchase being made, a town was laid out, in 
1689, on a large scale, at Gloucester Point, called by the Indians 
Axwamus. A draft in the surveyor-general's office, at Burlington, 
represents this town as extending back to Newton creek, and 
nearly down to Timber creek. It was intended to have thirteen 
streets, and an area in the middle of the town. Three chains 
square was reserved for a market-place. High expectations were 
indulged as to the prospective importance of the place. These 
were not entirely realized, though it continued to be of some con- 
sequence, being the place where the public business for this part 

the former was a " bold dragoon," named MilesSage, who had been sent on an errand 
out of the village just before the British entered? Tie executed his commission, and rode 
back, as he supposed, to his friends. He stopped at Col. Ellis's quarters, but finding it 
filled with British officers, remounted his horse and galloped on his way. The stars and 
stripes were still waving from the flasr-staff; and, on passing, he gave three cheers for 
" Washington and Independence." The British were formed in three ranks across the 
street, near the site of the upper tavern. He bravely charged through two ranks, but 
his horse fell at the third. The soldiers charged upon him with fury, and pierced him 
with nine or ten bayonet wounds, when a little Scotch officer came up and bade them 
desist. He asked him if he was alive ; and on receiving an affirmative answer, had him 
conveyed to a neighboring dwelling and taken care of. Sage survived to fight in many 
a battle, and to tell the tale of his scars to his prattling grandchildren. 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 221 

of the province was transacted. A courthouse, erected here, was 
standing within the memory of those now living. The lands in this 
vicinity were taken up at an early period, and upon the draught are 
represented the adjoining tracts, in their relative situation, with 
the dates and names of purchasers. The last tract represented 
adjoins Newton creek. But some of the very earliest purchases 
were made still higher up, at the site of the present city of Cam- 
den. 

It is stated, in Gordon's History of New Jersey, that immediately 
after the evacuation of Fort Mercer, in Nov. 1777, Cornwallis, with 
a force of about 5,000 men, collected large quantities of fresh pro- 
visions for the British army, and took post on Gloucester Point, 
which was entirely under cover of the guns of the ships. " Gen. 
Greene commanded an almost equal body of troops, in New Jer- 
sey, a part of which were militia ; and awaited the arrival of Glo- 
ver's brigade from the north, in order to take offensive measures 
against Cornwallis. But an attack upon the British, in their pres- 
ent advantageous position, would have been unwarrantable. Yet 
a small but brilliant affair was performed, by a detachment of 
about 150 men, from Morgan's rifle-corps, under Lieut. Col. Butler, 
and a like number of militia, under the Marquis Lafayette, who 
served as a volunteer. They attacked a picket of the enemy, con- 
sisting of about 300 men, and drove them, with the loss of 20 or 
30 killed, and a great number wounded, quite into their camp ; 
retiring themselves without pursuit. ' I found the riflemen,' said 
Lafayette, in a letter to Washington, ' even above their reputation, 
and the militia above all expectation I could have formed of them.' 
Cornwallis soon after returned to Philadelphia, and Greene joined 
the main army, under the commander-in-chief." 



WATERFORD. 

Waterford is a long, narrow township, stretching along the 
whole length of the NE. boundary of the county, from the Dela- 
ware river to Atlantic co. It is 24 miles long, with an average 
width of about 4 miles. It is bounded NE. by Chester, Evesham, 
and Washington, (Burlington co.,) SE. by Mullica, (Atlantic co.,) 
SW. by Camden, Union, Newton, and Gloucester, and NW. by the 
Delaware river. Pop. 3,467. The south part is covered with 
pines, and the north part is fertile, and productive in vegetables. 
There are in the township 10 stores, 2 glass-houses, 2 grist-m., 10 
saw-m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $92,115; 8 schools, 425 schol- 
ars. Pop. 3,467. 

This township was settled about the year 1712, principally by 
Friends, who located themselves on large tracts of excellent soil, 
in the north part, in the vicinity of Colestown and Cooper's creek. 
The names of some of these early pioneers were Kay, Cole, Spicer, 
Ellis, Matlock, &c. Cooperstown, Waterfordville, and Ellisburg 



222 GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 

are small settlements in the north part, containing respectively a 
few dwellings. In the south part, among the pines, are Jackson's 
and Waterford glass-works. The first has a glass-factory, and 
about 20 dwellings ; the latter, two extensive glass-factories, owned 
and conducted by Joseph Porter & Co., and also about 60 dwellings. 
On Petty's island, in the Delaware, opposite this township, lies 
the wreck of the famous continental frigate Alliance. She was 
built at Salisbury, in Massachusetts ; and the alliance with France, 
in 1778, induced our government to give her that name. After the 
capture of the frigate Trumbull, in 1781, the Alliance and Deane 
frigates composed the whole force of that class of ships in the 
American navy. Her history furnishes many pleasing anecdotes, 
among which is the following. In an encounter with a British 
vessel, a shot entered the corner of the Alliance's counter, and 
made its way into a locker, where all the china belonging to the 
captain was kept. An African servant of Commodore Barry, a 
great favorite, ran up to the quarter-deck, and called out, " Massa, 

dat Ingresse man broke all de chana !" " You rascal," said 

the commodore, " why did you not stop the ball ?" " Sha, massa, 
cannon-ball must hab a room !" 



WASHINGTON. 

Washington was taken from Deptford, in 1836. It is about 16 
miles long, 4 broad ; and is bounded NE. by Gloucester, SE. by 
Hamilton, (Atlantic co.,) SW. by Franklin and Greenwich, and 
NW. by Deptford. The soil is light, and the surface principally 
covered with pines. There are 6 stores, 1 woollen fac, 1 glass- 
house, 1 grist-m., 8 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $104,250 ; 4 schools, 
131 scholars. Pop. 1,545. 

Williamstown, or Squankum, is in the central part of the town- 
ship, 11 miles SE. of Woodbury. In 1800, there were but four or 
five houses in the vicinity, within the sound of the conch-shell. 
One of these dwellings, then occupied by David Williams, is now 
standing in the village. Paul Sears's tavern was erected about 
this period, by William Williamson, and occupied as a private 
dwelling. Some years later the Methodist church was erected. 
The town slowly progressed, until within a few years, when glass- 
works were established ; since which it has rapidly improved. It 
now contains 2 taverns, 3 stores, a Methodist and a Presbyterian 
church, (lately erected.) glass-works, and about 60 dwellings. 
There are a few farms in the vicinity. The soil is generally light, 
susceptible of improvement, and adapted to grain and grass. 
Cross Keys, 3 miles NE. of Williamstown, is a well-known tavern 
and post-office, among the pines, where six roads corner. A house 
of entertainment has been kept there for about 60 years. Chest- 
nut Ridge and Union Cross Roads each contain one or more dwell- 
ings. The county poorhouse is in the NW. corner of the town- 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 223 

ship, near Blackwoodtown. Attached is a farm of more than 200 
acres — one of the best establishments of the kind in the state. In 
the south part are several small ponds, with saw-mills at their 
outlets. 



WOOLWICH. 

This township is about 14 miles long, and 6 broad: it is bounded 
NE. by Greenwich, SE. by Franklin, SW. by Pilesgrove and Upper 
Penn's Neck, Salem co., and NW. by Delaware river. The face 
of the township is generally level ; but on the NE. hilly, and 
the southeastern part covered with pines. The soil is varied, 
being in some parts sandy, others a rich loam, producing large quan- 
tities of early vegetables. There are 2 fulling-m., 2 woollen fac- 
tories, 5 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $25,500 ; 12 schools, 
943 scholars. Pop. 3,676. 

The annexed is a view taken at the northern entrance of the vil- 
lage-street of Swedesboro. The village is situated at the head of 
sloop navigation on the south side of Raccoon creek, about 5 miles 
from its mouth. It contains 2 churches, 1 Episcopal, (seen on the 
right of the engraving,) 1 Methodist, 6 mercantile stores, an exten- 
sive woollen factory, an academy, and about 75 dwellings; 10 miles 
from Woodbury, and 18 from Camden. Battentown is a village of 
20 or 30 dwellings, at the southern extremity of Swedesboro, and 
is rather a continuation of that village. Harrisonville, formerly 
Colestown, situated 5 miles in a southerly direction from Swedes- 
boro, on Old Man's creek, (the boundary line of Salem co.,) contains 
about 20 or 30 dwellings ; near it is a Methodist church. There are 
some excellent farms in the neighborhood. Bridgeport, formerly 
called Raccoon Lower Bridge, about a mile from the mouth of the 
creek, contains a Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. 

The first settlements in this township were commenced by the 
Swedes at an early period, on Raccoon creek. In a map of Dela- 
ware river and the adjacent parts, published by Lindstrom soon 
after his visit to this country in 1642, a station or settlement is 
noted as being in existence on Raccoon creek. The ancient Swe- 
dish church at Raccoon, as Swedesboro was formerly called, was 
constructed of cedar logs, and stood near the site of the present 
Episcopal church. This last structure was erected in 1784, at 
which time the log church was taken down. At this period there 
were about a dozen dwellings built, mostly of logs ; the school- 
house, parsonage, and tavern being built of the same materials. 
The Indians, at this time, lived on the borders of Raccoon creek, 
and deer were quite plenty in this vicinity. The British visited 
this place during the revolution, burnt several houses, and among 
other things took the furniture and bedding of Col. Brown, and 
consumed them by a bonfire in the street. 

The churches at Raccoon and Penn's Neck appear to have been 



224 



GLOUCESTER COUNTY. 



somewhat connected with regard to their pastors. Jonas Auren 
appears to have been the first pastor: he was appointed in 1697, 
and died in 1713. He was succeeded by Abraham Lidenius in 
1714, who remained till 1724, when he returned to Sweden. Petrus 
Tranberg and Andreas Windrufwa were sent over in 1726 ; they 
divided the churches between them, and so continued until 1728, 




Sivedesboro. 

when Windrufwa died. John Sandin, the next pastor, was ap- 
pointed in 1748, and died the same year. Erick Unander, his suc- 
cessor, was sent over the next year. He was succeeded by John 
Lidenius in 1756. John Wicksell, the next pastor, arrived in 1762, 
returned in 1774, and was succeeded by Nicholas Collin in 1778, a 
native of Upsal, in Sweden. 

Dr. Collin was the last of the Swedish ministers who officiated 
at Swedesboro. In July, 1786, he was rector of Wicaco, (in Phila- 
delphia,) and the churches in connection. He presided over these 
churches for a period of forty-five years, and died at Wicaco Oct. 
7th, 1831, in the 87th year of his age. During the whole period 
of his ministry he was much respected by his congregations. He 
was a man of learning, particularly in languages. The only work 
which he left behind him is a manuscript translation of Acrelius' 
History of New Sweden, which he undertook in 1799, at the request 
of the Historical Society of New York, in whose possession it now 
remains. 

In 1765, the charter for the "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran 
church" was granted, George III. being king, and William Frank- 
lin governor of the colony of New Jersey, &c. The following 
names appear in the petition for the charter, viz : Rev. John Wick- 
sell, Thomas Denny, John Denny, John Rambo, James Steelman, 
John Helm, Benj. Rambo, Jonas Keen, Erick Cox, Jacob Archer, 
Isaac Justison, Gilbert Rinelds, Gabriel Strang, William Homan, 
Peter Matson ; Peter Keen, Andrew Jones, Hans Urien, John Holf- 



HUDSON COUNTY. 225 

man. Lawrence Strang, John Derickson, Charles Locke, Erick 
Ranels, Jacob Jones, William Matsen, James Halton, Andrew 
Lock, Moses Holfman, Chas. Fullor, and Andrew Vanneman, in 
behalf of themselves and others, inhabiting near Raccoon creek, 
in the county of Gloucester, &c. 

The following, respecting the customs, &c, of the early Swedish 
settlers, is from " Watson's Annals of Philadelphia :" 

To the church upon Tinicum Island all the Swedes, settled along the Delaware, used 
to go in their canoes from long distances. They did the same in visiting the primitive 
log church at Wicaco — almost all their conveyances were preferred by water. There 
was a store upon Darby to which they always went by water, even when the land route 
was often nearest. 

The old Swedish inhabitants were said to be very successful in raising chick turkeys ; 
as soon as hatched they plunged them into cold water, and forced them to swallow a 
whole pepper-corn, — they then returned it to the mother, and it became as hardy as a 
hen's chick. When they found them drooping, their practice was to examine the rump 
feathers, and such two or three as were found filled with blood were to be drawn, and 
the chick would revive and thrive. 

Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who was here among his countrymen in 1748, has left 
us such notices as follow concerning them, to wit : 

The ancient Swedes used the sassafras for tea, and for a dye. From the persimmon 
tree they made beer and brandy. They called the mullein plant the Indian tobacco ; 
they tied it round their arms and feet, as a cure when they had the ague. They made 
their candles generally from the bayberry bushes ; the root they used to cure tooth-ache ; 
from the bush they also made an agreeable smelling soap. The magnolia tree they 
made use of for various medicinal purposes. 

The houses of the first Swedish settlers were very indifferent ; it consisted of but one 
room ; the door was so low as to require you to stoop. Instead of window panes of 
glass they had little holes, before which a sliding board was put, or on other occasions 
they had isinglass ; the cracks between logs were filled with clay ; the chimneys, in a 
corner, were generally of gray sandstone, or, for want of it, sometimes of mere clay ; the 
ovens were in the same room. They had at first separate stables for the cattle ; but 
after the English carne and set the example, they left their cattle to suffer in the open 
winter air. The Swedes wore vests and breeches of skins ; hats were not used, but 
little caps with flaps before them. They made their own leather and shoes, with soles 
(like moccasins) of the same materials as the tops. The women, too, wore jackets and 
petticoats of skins ; their beds, excepting the sheets, were of skins of bears, wolves, &c. 
Hemp they had none, but they used flax for ropes and fishing-tackle. This rude state of 
living was, however, in the country places principally, and before the English came, 
who, rough as they must have also lived for a time, taught a comparative state of luxury. 



HUDSON COUNTY. 

Hudson co. was formed from the southern part of Bergen co., 
Feb. 22d, 1840. This is the smallest county in the state, contain- 
ing only 75 sq. m. Its extreme length is 14 m., greatest width 7 
m. It is bounded N. by Bergen, E. by Hudson river and New York 
bay, S. by the Kill Van Kuhi, separating it from Staten Island, and 
Passaic river, dividing it from Essex co., and W. by the Passaic, 
separating it from Essex and Passaic cos. On the east, the Closter 
mountain extends through the township of North Bergen and part 
of Bergen. The remainder of the county is generally level. In 

29 



226 HUDSON COUNTY. 

the valley of the Hackensack river, which courses centrally through 
the county, dividing it into two. nearly equal parts, is an extensive 
tract of salt marsh and swampy land, occupying about one third 
of the area of the county. The cultivated parts of the county are 
fertile, and considerable quantities of vegetables are raised for the 
New York market. There were produced, in 1840, wheat, 2,360 
bushels; rye, 5,335 ; Indian corn, 10,875 ; buckwheat, 3,508 ; oats, 
9,141. Cap. employed in manufac. $411,850. It is divided into 
the following townships, viz : — 

Bergen, Harrison, Jersey City, North Bergen, Van Vorst. 
The population of the county, in 1840, was 9,436 ; the same ter- 
ritory, in 1830, contained only about 5,300 inhabitants. 



BERGEN. 

Bergen has been much reduced from its original limits. It now 
comprises a small strip of land 1\ m. long, and from 1 to 3 broad. 
It is bounded N. by North Bergen, E. by New York bay, S. by the 
Kill Van Kuhl, and W. by Newark bay and Hackensack river. 
The soil is fertile, and it is inhabited by a thriving agricultural 
population. 

Bergen is supposed to be the oldest European settlement in New 
Jersey. The village of Bergen is presumed to have been founded 
about 1616, by the Dutch colonists to New Netherlands, and to 
have received its name from Bergen in Norway. For several 
years it was probably merely a trading post, to which the Indians 
resorted for the sale of their game and fur. On the 30th Jan., 
1658-9, the Indians sold to "the Noble Lord Director-general, Pie- 
ter Stuyvesant, and Councill of New Netherlands" a tract lying 
on the west side of North river, " beginning from the great Clip,* 
above vViehachan, and from there right through the land above the 
Islandt Sikakes, and therefrom thence to the Kill Van Coll, and so 
along to the Constables Hoeek, and from the Constables Hoeek 
again to the aforesaid Clip above Wiehachan." In consideration 
for this tract, which included all the lands between the Hacken- 
sack and North rivers, and the Kills, the Indians received 80 fath- 
oms of wampum, 20 fathoms of cloth, 12 brass kettles, 6 guns, 2 
blankets, 1 double brass kettle, and one half-barrel of strong beer, 
and agreed to remove the first opportunity. 

On the 22d Sept., 1668, a charter was granted by Gov. Carteret 
and his council, " to the Towne and the Freeholders of Bergen, and 
to the Villages and Plantations thereunto belonging ;" and the 
boundaries fixed in the deed then given, remained unchanged until 
the recent act of the legislature constituting the new county of 
Hudson, when Jersey City was set oft". The township, in the deed, 

* Dutch for stone — referring to the Palisades 



HUDSON COUNTY. 227 

was estimated to embrace 11,520 acres, (perhaps not more than 
half the actual quantity,) and it was about 16 miles long, by 4 in 
width, including " the said towne of Bergen, Communipaw, Ahassi- 
mus, Minkacque, and Pembrepock," bounded on the E., S., and W. 
by New York and Newark bays, and Hackensack river. The con- 
ditions of this charter were admirable. By it, " the Freeholders 
within the said Jurisdiction," were bound " to pay the Lords Pro- 
prietors and their successors, on every 25th day of March, £15," 
as a quit-rent forever. They had power "to chuse their owne 
magistrates to be assistants to the President or Judge of the Court, 
and for the ordering of all Public Affaires within the said Jurisdic- 
tion." They were also enjoined to provide for religious worship, 
" to chuse a minister for the preaching of the Word of God, and 
the administering his Holy Sacraments," — " to lay out such a pro- 
portion of Land for him, and the keeping of a Free School for the 
Education of Youth, as they shall think fit ; which Land is to re- 
maine and to continue forever without Tax or Rent." No person 
was to be molested for religious opinions, provided they did not 
" extend to Licentiousness," &c, &c* 

The first settlement was doubtless at the village of Bergen, 2 
miles west of Jersey City, on the summit of Bergen ridge, which 
now contains about 30 dwellings and a Reformed Dutch church. 
" The names of some of the early settlers in this region were, Pin- 
horne, Eickbe, Berrie, Kiersted, Van Home, Van Winkle, Edsall, 
Van Guellin, Van Vorst, &c. ; and their descendants have continued 
to occupy the country to the present day, retaining much of their 
primitive habits, their language, industry, cleanliness, and general 
economy." 

The following is a description of this country in 1680, taken from 
Smith's History of New Jersey : — 

Near the mouth of the bay, upon the side of Overprook creek, adjacent to Hackensack 
river, several of the ricli valleys were then (1680) settled by the Dutch; and near Snake 
hill was a fine plantation, owned by Pinhorne and Eickbe, for half of which, Pinhorne 
is said to have paid £500. There were other settlements upon Hackensack river, and 
on a creek near it, Sarah Kiersted, of New York, had a tract given her by an old Indian 
sachem, for services in interpreting between the Indians and Dutch, and on which sev- 
eral families were settled ; John Berrie had a large plantation, 2 or 3 miles above, where 
he then lived, and had considerable improvements ; as had also near him, his son-in-law, 
Smith, and one Baker, from Barbadoes. On the west side of the creek, opposite to Ber- 
rie, were other plantations ; but none more northerly. There was a considerable settle- 
ment upon Bergen Point, then called Constable Hook, and first improved by Edsall, in 
Nicoll's time. Other small plantations were improved along Bergen neck, to the east, 
between the point and a large village of 20 families, (Communipaw.) Further along lived 
16 or 18 families, and opposite New York about 40 families were seated. Southward 
from this, a few families settled together, at a place called Duke's Farm ; and further up 
the country was a place called Hoebuck, formerly owned by a Dutch merchant, who, in 
the Indian wars with the Dutch, had his wife, children, and servants murdered by the 
Indians, and his house and stock destroyed by them ; but it was now settled again, and 
a mill erected there. Along the river-side to the N. were lands settled by William Law- 
rence, Samuel Edsall, and Capt. Beinfield ; and at Haversham, near the Highlands, Gov. 
Carteret had taken up two large tracts ; one for himself, the other for Andrew Campyne 
and Co., which were now but little improved. The plantations on both sides of the neck, 

* For this deed in full, see the Jersey City Advertiser of Feb. 1st, 1842. 



228 HUDSON COUNTY. 

to its utmost extent, as also those at Hackensack, were under the jurisdiction of Bergen, 
town, situate about the middle of the neck ; where was a court held by selectmen or 
overseers, consisting of 4 or more in number, as the people thought best, chose annually 
to try small causes, as had been the practice in all the rest of the towns at first ; 2 courts 
of sessions were held here yearly, from which, if the cause exceeded £20, the party might 
appeal to the governor, council, and court of deputies or assembly. 

Bergen, a compact town which had been fortified against the Indians, contained about 
70 families ; its inhabitants were chiefly Dutch, some of whom had been settled there 
upwards of 40 years. 

The following interesting facts, relating to the ecclesiastical his- 
tory of the village, are from a manuscript historical discourse by the 
Rev. B. C. Taylor, D. D., Bergen :— 

In 1663, the inhabitants agreed to be taxed for a place of worship, and in 1664, the 
church records commenced, and have been regularly kept ever since. About that period 
the church was constituted, being the first church of any denomination in the state, and 
one of the first Dutch Reformed churches in the Union.* Until 1680, public worship 
was held in a rude structure, probably of logs, which, tradition says, stood on the hill 
within what is now known as the old graveyard. That year, the first regular church 




Ancient Reformed Dutch Church, Bergen. 

edifice was erected. It was built of stone, octagonal in form ; with pews around the 
wall, solely occupied by the males, while the remainder of the floor was covered with 
chairs for the females. A belfry rose from the roof, and when ringing, the sexton stood 
in the centre of the church. In 1773, this church was taken down, and a new one 
(shown in the annexed view) was erected, which stood until 1841, when the present 
splendid church edifice, standing 15 or 20 rods south of the old one, was built. On it 
is the appropriate inscription — "The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fa- 
thers : let him not leave us or forsake us." The territory over which the congregation 
was originally scattered, comprised the whole of the ancient township of Bergen, in 
which, for 162 years, it was the only organized church. On the hallowed spot where 
the late house of worship stood, there was, at least for 140 years, the only house of wor- 
ship. There, for over 160 years, successive generations worshipped the living God. 
There are now, (1843,) in the same limits, 15 temples in which public worship is held, 
4 of which are in this township, viz : 1 Reformed Dutch and 2 Methodist churches at 
Bergen neck, and 1 Reformed Dutch at Bergen. 

The congregation, from its organization, was supplied with preaching from the Reform- 
ed Dutch church at New York. In 1750, a call was made by the consistories of Staten 

* Previous to this, there had been organized a church of this denomination at Albany, 
one at New York, one at Kingston, and one at Flatbush. 



HUDSON COUNTY. 229 

Island and Bergen, on one Petrus De Wint. He commenced as a candidate, and en- 
deavored to procure his ordination as a minister, and installation as a pastor, of these 
churches, from the party known as the Ccetus.* The call, however, was referred to the 
Classis of Amsterdam for approval, from which hody a letter was subsequently received, 
declaring De Wint to be an impostor ; upon which he was discharged by the congrega- 
tions. In 1752, the two churches unitedly called Wm. Jackson, a young theological 
student, whom they sent to Holland to complete his education. 

In 1757 he returned as an ordained minister, with a commission appointing three cler- 
gymen of the Dutch church in this country to install him pastor over these churches ; 
which took place Sept. 10, 1757. He was an able and devoted minister. On the 10th 
of December, 1789, the Classis of Hackensack recommended to him the propriety of re- 
turning his call, by reason of sore mental affliction. The church then secured to him, 
through life, the parsonage and adjacent lands ; and administered to his wants until his 
death, July 25, 1813, at the age of 82, and nearly 24 years after his release from the 
church. On the 28th of November, 1792, this church united with that of English 
Neighborhood in a call on the Rev. John Cornelison, which he accepted, and continued 
in the double charge until December 1, 1806 ; from which time until his death, March, 
1828, he was pastor of this church alone. On the 1st of July, 1628, the present pastor, 
the Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, D. D., entered upon his labors. It is a fact worthy of no- 
tice, that there are now in this congregation 35 pew-holders with the prefix of Van to 
their names ; of these there are 22 of the name of Van Vreeland. Other very numerous 
names are the Van Winkles, Van Horns, Van Reypens, Van Boskircks, Newkirks, and 
Cadmuses. Previous to the settlement of Cornelison, and during part of his ministry, 
the services were in the Dutch language ; and the church records, until 1S09, were in 
Dutch. 

In the war of the revolution Bergen village was frequently suc- 
cessively occupied by American and British troops on the same 
day ; and there was much skirmishing between them. A fort was 
erected by the Americans, about 200 yards E. of the centre of the 
village, on land belonging to Garret G. Newkirk ; and one by the 
British, on Van Vorst's hill, about a mile SE. They were simply 
earthen breastworks covered with sod, with trenches in front. 
The accompanying extract from an ancient newspaper, relates to 
the murder of Stephen Ball by the refugees, Feb. 15th, 1781. Ac- 
cording to tradition, he was hung on a small persimmon-tree, near 
the tide-mill on Bergen Point. After he was dead the refugees cut 
the rope, and his corpse fell into a grave dug by them. He was 
subsequently reburied at Newark. 

This unfortunate man was deluded by a declaration made by the commanding officer 
on Staten Island, that all persons who would bring provisions should have liberty to sell 
the same, and return unmolested ; in consequence of which declaration Ball carried over 
four quarters of beef, with a full assurance of being well treated, and expected to return 
undiscovered by his countrymen ; but soon after his arrival on that island, he was seized 
by Cornelius Hetfield, who commanded a party of six or seven men, and was carried be- 
fore Gen. Patterson, who refused to call a court-martial to try him. From thence he 
was carried before Gen. Skinner, in order for trial ; but he also refused, pretending to 
shudder at the thought of trying and executing a person who came to bring them relief. 
Nevertheless, the said Hetfield and his party, being lost to every sense of humanity, af- 
ter robbing their prisoner of what property he had with him, carried him across to Ber- 
gen Point, and without even the form of a trial, immediately informed him that he had 
but ten minutes to live, and accordingly put their horrid design into execution, notwith- 
standing the prisoner strenuously urged that he came with provision, agreeably to the 
above mentioned declaration. And when he found they were determined to take his life, 
he begged for a few minutes longer, but was answered that his request could not be 

* The Ccetus party were those who advocated the ordination of ministers in this 
country, — the Conferentie party, those who would receive none but such as were ordain- 
ed in Holland. 



230 HUDSON COUNTY. 

granted ; but if he had a desire any person should pray with him, one of their party 
should officiate. When he was near expiring, James Hetfield, one of the banditti, put a 
knife in his hand, and swore that he should not go into another world unarmed. The 
persons who perpetrated this cruel act were Cornelius Hetfield, Job Hetfield, James Het- 
field, sen., James Hetfield, jr., Elias Man, and Samuel Man — all late inhabitants of 
Elizabethtown ; and Job Smith, late an inhabitant of Bergen. When Ball's father be- 
came acquainted with the tragical death of his son, he solicited a flag, which he ob- 
tained, for the purpose of bringing over the corpse; but the enemy, with savage brutal 
ity, would not suffer them to land. 

At the close of the revolution, Cornelius Hetfield, the principal in 
this murder, fled to Nova Scotia. In 1807 he returned to this 
state, and was arrested for the crime. After his incarceration in 
the Newark jail, he was shortly brought before Judge Pennington, 
on a writ of habeas corpus. He was finally discharged by the 
judge, who was of opinion, by the spirit of the treaty of 1783, that 
he was not answerable for the transaction. 

Communipaw is a small settlement, consisting of 12 or 15 houses, 
facing the sea, on the shore, about 2 miles below Jersey city ; and 
inhabited principally by fishermen. It was very early settled by 
the Dutch ; and its inhabitants have long been noted for their 
tenacity to the customs of their ancestors. Washington Irving, in 
his history of New York, humorously describes this place. 



HARRISON. 

Harrison was recently formed from the southern part of Lodi. 
Its extreme length is 9, and average breadth about 3 miles. It is 
bounded N. by Lodi, Bergen co. ; E. by Hackensack river, dividing 
it from Bergen and North Bergen ; S. by Newark bay and Passaic 
river, the latter separating it from Newark ;. and W. by the Passaic 
river, separating it from Newark and Belleville, Essex co., and 
Acquackanonck, Passaic co. Pop. 1,173. The surface is mainly 
level ; and more than half of its territory (that bordering on the 
Hackensack river) is a salt marsh. On the west, along the mar- 
gin of the Passaic, extends a strip of fine arable and well-culti- 
vated land, nearly 2 miles in width. Pleasantly situated on the 
bank of the river, are a number of handsome country-seats, sur- 
rounded by highly cultivated grounds, descending with a gradual 
slope to the water's edge. 

The New Jersey railroad crosses the southern part, and the Pat- 
erson and Hudson railroad the northern portion of Harrison. The 
Schuyler copper-mine is in the W. part of the township, near 
Belleville. It was discovered about the year 1719, by Arent 
Schuyler. It is a valuable deposit of superior copper ore, and has 
been extensively worked, with varied success, at different times. 



JERSEY CITY. 

Jersey City lies on the west bank of the Hudson, opposite New 
York, on a peninsula, the Indian name of which was Arese-heck 



HUDSON COUNTY. 231 

It was sometimes called, by the Dutch, Areseck-Houck. Soon 
after the arrival, in 1638, of William Kieft, Director-general of the 
Dutch West India Co., he had in his possession a farm, described 
as a lot of land called Paulas Hoeck, which is the first application 
of the name of Paulus Hook to this peninsula. 

Powles Hook, from a very remote period, belonged to the Van 
Vorst family ; and in 1804 was vested in Cornelius Van Vorst. 
On the 10th Nov. 1804, an act to incorporate the Associates of the 
Jersey Co. was passed by the legislature of the state, to whom the 
title by this time was conveyed. On the 28th Jan. 1820, an act to 
incorporate the City of Jersey, in the county of Bergen, was passed ; 
under which, and the various supplements and amendments there- 
to since passed, this city has continued to this time. 

The city, although small, is well laid out, with wide and com- 
modious streets, and contains many large and elegant dwellings. 
It is the seat of justice for Hudson co., and a port of entry, annexed 
to the collection district of New York, together with all that part 
of New Jersey lying north and east of Elizabethtown and Staten 
Island. It was a mere village at the time of its incorporation, in 
1820, containing only about 300 inhabitants. It has since' been 
very thriving, and now has a population of about 4,000. It con- 
tains 5 churches, of which the first-named is the oldest — 1 Episco- 
pal, 1 Reformed Dutch, 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 Cath- 
olic ; a female academy, in fine repute, (Misses Edwards, princi- 
pals ;) an excellent high-school for males, (W. L. Dickinson, Esq., 
principal ;) the American Pottery Co., who make beautiful delft- 
ware ; the Jersey City Glass Co., conducted by Phineas C. Dum- 
mer & Co., which employs 100 hands, and manufactures plain and 
cut glass ; 1 newspaper printing-office, 3 lumber-yards, 2 iron- 
foundries, and many stores and mechanic shops. The city is well 
lighted with street-lamps. 

This is now the principal starting-point of the great line of south- 
ern travel. The New Jersey railroad commences here, and, in con- 
nection with other railroads, extends to Philadelphia. The Pater- 
son and Hudson railroad also commences at this place, diverging 
from the New Jersey railroad at Bergen Hill ; thence running to 
Paterson, a distance of 16^ miles. This road will ultimately ex- 
tend and unite with the Erie railroad, in which event this city will 
be vastly benefited. The Morris canal also terminates at J ersey 
City, after pursuing a circuitous route, from the Delaware river, 
of 101 miles. In its course it has a total rise and fall of 1669 feet, 
which is overcome by locks and inclined planes. The summit 
level is 915 feet above the Atlantic ocean. From the magnitude 
of the public works terminating at this point, Jersey City must fast 
increase in importance and population, being closely allied to New 
York, (distant one mile,) with which communication is had every 
15 minutes, by a line of excellent ferry-boats, nowhere surpassed. 

In the war of the revolution, the spot where Jersey City now 
stands was an outpost of the British army, during their occupancy 



232 HUDSON COUNTY. 

of New York. Their fort on Powles Hook, as the place was then 
called, was located near the building lately used by the Morris 
Canal and Banking Co., for their banking-house, at the corner of 
Grand and Greene sts. The graveyard was near the site of the 
Episcopal church. In grading the streets, a few years since, in that 
neighborhood, human remains were disinterred, together with a 
variety of military relics. In the latter part of the summer of 
1779, this fortress was surprised by Maj. Lee ; the following ac- 
count of which is from Marshall's Life of Washington : 

While Sir Henry Clinton continued encamped just above Haerlem, with his upper 
posts at Kingsbridge, and the American army preserved its station in the Highlands, a 
bold plan was formed for surprising a British post at Powles Hook, which was executed 
with great address by Maj. Lee. 

This officer was employed on the west side of the river, with directions to observe the 
situation ol the British in Stony Point, but, principally, to watch the motions of their 
main army. While his parties scoured the country, he obtained intelligence which sug- 
gested the idea of surprising and carrying off the garrison at Powles Hook, immediately 
opposite the town of New York, penetrating deep into the river. On the point nearest 
New York, some works had been constructed, which were garrisoned by four or five 
hundred men. 

A deep ditch, into which the water of the river flowed, having over it a drawbridge 
connected with a barred gate, had been cut across the isthmus, so as to make the Hook, 
in reality, an island. This ditch could be passed only at low water. Thirty feet within 
it was a row of abattis running into the river ; and some distance in front of it is a 
creek, fordable only in two places. 

This difficulty of access, added to the remoteness of the nearest corps of the Ameri- 
can army, impressed the garrison with the opinion that they were perfectly secure ; and 
this opinion produced an unmilitary remissness in the commanding officer, which did 
not escape the vigilance of Lee. 

On receiving his communication, Gen. Washington was inclined to favor the enter, 
prise they suggested ; but withheld his full assent until he was satisfied that the assail- 
ants would be able to make good their retreat. 

The Hackensack, which communicates with the waters of the Hudson below New 
York, runs almost parallel with that river quite to its source, and is separated from it 
only a few miles. This neck is still further narrowed by a deep creek which divides it, 
and empties into the Hackensack below Fort Lee. West of that river runs the Passaic, 
which unites with it near Newark, and forms another long and narrow neck of land. 
From Powles Hook to the new bridge, the first place where the Hackensack could be 
crossed without boats, the distance is fourteen miles ; and from the North river to the 
road leading from the one place to the other, there are three points of interception, the 
nearest of which is less than two miles, and the farthest not more than three. The 
British were encamped in full force along the North river, opposite to the points of in- 
terception. To diminish the danger of the retreat, it was intended to occupy the roads 
leading through the mountains of the Hudson, to the Hackensack, with a select body 
of troops. 

Every preparatory arrangement being made, the ' night of the 18th of August was 
fixed on for the enterprise. A detachment from the division of Lord Stirling, including 
300 men, designed for the expedition, was ordered down as a foraging party. As there 
was nothing unusual in this movement, it excited no suspicion. Lord Stirling followed 
with 500 men, and encamped at the new bridge. 

Maj. Lee, at the head of 300 men, took the road through the mountains, which ran 
parallel to the North river ; and, having secured all the passes into York island, reached 
the creek which surrounds the Hook, between two and three in the morning. He passed 
first the creek, and then the ditch, undiscovered, and about three in the morning en- 
tered the main work ; and, with the loss of only two killed and three wounded, made 
159 prisoners, including three officers. Very few of the British were killed. Maj. Suth- 
erland, who commanded the garrison, threw himself, with 40 or 50 Hessians, into a 
strong redoubt, which it was thought unadvisable to attack, because the time occupied 
in carrying it might endanger the retreat. Wasting no time in destroying what could 
easily be replaced, Maj. Lee hastened to bring oft" his prisoners and his detachment. 



HUDSON COUNTY. 233 

To avoid the danger of retreating up the narrow neck of land which has already been 
described, some boats had been brought, in the course of the night, to Dow's Ferry, on 
the Hackensack, not far from Powles Hook. The officer who guarded them was direct- 
ed to remain until the arrival of the troops engaged in the expedition, which, it was un- 
derstood, would happen before day. The light having made its appearance without any 
intelligence from Maj. Lee, the officer having charge of the boats conjectured that the 
attack had been postponed ; and, to avoid discovery, retired with them to Newark. The 
head of the retreating column soon afterward reached the ferry ; and, fatigued as they 
were by the toilsome inarch of the preceding night, were compelled to pass as r :>idly as 
possible up the narrow neck of land, between the two rivers, to the new ' H dge. A 
horseman was dispatched, with this information, to Lord Stirling, and the line of march 
was resumed. 

About nine in the preceding evening, Maj. Buskirk had been detached up the North 
river, with a considerable part of the garrison of Powles Hook, and some other troops, 
for the purpose of falling in with the American party, supposed to be foraging about the 
English Neighborhood. 

On receiving intelligence of the disappointment respecting the boats, Lord Stirling 
took the precaution to detach Col. Ball, with 200 fresh men, to meet Lee, and cover his 
retreat. Just after Ball had passed, Buskirk entered the main road, and fired on his 
rear. Taking it for granted that this was only the advanced corps of a large detach- 
ment, sent to intercept the party retreating from Powles Hook, Ball made a circuit to 
avoid the enemy ; and Buskirk, finding a detachment he had not expected, took the same 
measure to secure his own retreat. The two parties, narrowly missing each other, re- 
turned to their respective points of departure ; and Lee reached the new bridge without 
interruption. 

This critical enterprise reflected much honor on the partisan with whom it originated, 
and by whom it was conducted. Gen. Washington announced it to the army, in his 
orders, with much approbation ; and congress bestowed upon it a degree of applause 
more adapted to the talent displayed in performing the service than to its magnitude. 

It was at this place that the intrepid Champe, in his pretended 
desertion from the American army, while being hotly pursued, at 
the peril of his life, from near Tappan, by a party of Lee's legion, 
of which he was the sergeant-major, embarked on board of a 
British barge, and escaped to New York, for the purpose of getting 
Arnold, by stratagem, into the power of Washington ; and thus 
save the life of the unfortunate Andre. For a full and thrilling 
narration of this event, the reader is referred to Lee's Southern 
Campaigns. 



NORTH BERGEN. 

North Bergen was formed, in 1842, from that part of Bergen N. 
of the New Jersey railroad. It is 6 miles long, and from 2 to 4 
wide. It is bounded N. by Hackensack and Lodi, (Bergen co.,) E. 
by Hudson river and Van Vorst, S. by Bergen, and W. by Passaic 
river, separating it from Harrison. The Palisades enter the town- 
ship on the north. Much of its surface is marsh ; elsewhere the 
soil is generally very fertile, and produces large quantities of vege- 
tables for the New York market. 

North Bergen is a scattered settlement, on the summit of the 
ridge north of the New Jersey railroad, 2 miles west of Jersey 
City, containing about 60 dwellings. Secaucus is an island, or 
more properly a strip of firm land, surrounded by a marsh, in the 
N W. part of the township. There is at that place a Baptist church. 

30 



234 



HUDSON COUNTY. 



New Durham, 4 miles north of Hoboken, on the Hackensack turn- 
pike, has 1 Reformed Dutch and 1 Baptist church, and about 50 
dwellings. West Hoboken is a recent settlement, handsomely laid 
out on the brow of an eminence, about 2 miles from Hoboken 
landing. Hoboken, supposed anciently to be called Hoebuek, lies 
on the Hudson, 1 mile from New York, with which constant com- 
munication is had by ferry-boats. It contains an Episcopal church, 
and from 50 to 70 dwellings. The pleasant and shady retreats, 
delightfully situated at this place, on the banks of the river, have 
long made it a favorite resort. 




Duelling-Ground and Hamilton's Monument. 

A short distance above Weehawken, and about three miles above 
Hoboken, overhung by the Palisades, on the bank of the Hudson, 
is the spot famous as the " duelling-ground" Here several have 
paid the forfeit of their lives to a custom at which humanity shudders, 
and which all laws, divine and human, condemn. Here it was that 
Gen. Alexander Hamilton fell in a duel with Col. Aaron Burr, Vice- 
President of the United States, July 11th, 1804; an event at which 
a nation mourned. A monument was erected to the memory of 
Hamilton on the spot where he fell, by a society in New York, of 
which the annexed view, taken many years since, by J. C. Ward, 
Esq., is a representation. The monument was destroyed by the 
hand of violence, and the pieces carried off as relics. The piece 
bearing the inscription was found in a low groggery in New York, 
where it had been pawned for liquor. It is now in possession of a 
gentleman residing in the vicinity. 

The annexed account is drawn from Coleman's Collections, rela- 
tive to the death of Hamilton : 

Hamilton's political opinions were at variance with those of Burr, and some expres- 
sions he had dropped, derogatory to the Vice-President, were eagerly embraced by the 



HUDSON COUNTY. 235 

Jatter as affording sufficient grounds for sending him an insolent note, requiring him to 
acknowledge or disavow those expressions. General Hamilton refused to do either, and 
a challenge from Col. Burr was the consequence. Much delay and deliberation on the 
part of Hamilton was resorted to, but he finally accepted the challenge. 

It was near seven in tbe morning when the boat which carried Gen. Hamilton, his 
second, Mr. Pendleton, and their surgeon, Dr. Hosack, reached Weakawk. There they 
found Col. Burr and his second, Mr. Van Ness, who had been employed since their ar- 
rival, with coats off*, in clearing away the bushes, limbs of trees, &c, so as to make a 
fair opening. The parties were soon at their allotted stations : when Mr. Pendleton, 
gave the word, Burr raised his arm slowly, deliberately took aim, and fired. His ball 
entered Hamilton's right side; as soon as the bullet struck him, he raised himself invol- 
untarily on his toes, turned a little to the left, (at which moment his pistol went oft*,) 
and fell upon his face. 

Dr. Hosack says : "When called to him, upon his receiving the fatal wound, I found 
him half-sitting on the ground, supported in the arms of Mr. Pendleton. His counte- 
nance of death I shall never forget. He had at that instant just strength to say, ' This 
is a mortal wound, Doctor;' when he sunk away, and became to all appearance lifeless. 
I immediately stripped up his clothes, and soon, alas ! ascertained that the direction of 
the ball must have been through some vital part. His pulses were not to be felt ; his 
respiration was entirely suspended ; and upon my laying my hand upon his heart, and 
perceiving no motion, then I perceived him irrecoverably gone. I however observed to 
Mr. Pendleton, that the only chance for his reviving was immediately to get him upon 
the water. We therefore lifted him up, and carried him out of the wood to the margin 
of the bank, where the bargemen aided us in conveying him into the boat, which imme- 
diately put oft*. During all this time I could not discover the least symptom of return- 
ing life. I now rubbed his face, lips, and temples with spirits of hartshorn, applied it 
to his neck and breast, and to the wrist and palms of his hands, and endeavored to pour 
some into his mouth. When we had got, as I should judge, some 50 yards from the 
shore, some imperfect efforts to breathe were for the first time made manifest; in a few 
minutes he sighed, and became sensible to the impression of the hartshorn, or the fresh 
air of the water. He breathed ; his eyes, hardly opened, wandered, without fixing upon 
any objects ; to our great joy he at length spoke : ' My vision is indistinct,' were his 
first words. His pulse became more perceptible; his respiration more regular; his sight 
returned. I then examined the wound, to know if there was any dangerous discharge 
of blood ; upon slightly pressing his side it gave him pain ; on which I desisted. Soon 
after, recovering his sight, he happened to cast his eyes upon the case of pistols, and ob- 
serving the one that he had in his hand lying on the outside, he said, ' Take care of that 
pistol; it is undischarged and still cocked; it may go off", and do harm; Pendleton 
knows (attempting to turn his head toward him) that I did not intend to fire at him.' 
'Yes,' said Mr. Pendleton, understanding his wish, ' I have already made Dr. Hosack 
acquainted with your determination as to that.' He then closed his eyes and remained 
calm, without any disposition to speak; nor did he say much afterwards, excepting in 
reply to my questions as to his feelings. He asked me once or twice how I found his 
pulse ; and he informed me that his lower extremities had lost all feeling ; manifesting 
to me that he entertained no hopes that he should long survive. I changed the posture 
of his limbs, but to no purpose — they had totally lost their sensibility. Perceiving that 
we approached the shore, he said, ' Let Mrs. Hamilton be immediately sent for — let the 
event be gradually broken to her ; but give her hopes.' Looking up, we saw his friend 
Mr. Bayard standing on the wharf in great agitation. He had been told by his servant 
that Gen. Hamilton, Mr. Pendleton, and myself had crossed the river in a boat together, 
and too well had lie conjectured the fatal errand, and foreboded the dreadful result. Per- 
ceiving, as we came nearer, that Mr. Pendleton and myself only sat up in the stern 
sheets, he clasped his hands together in the most violent apprehension ; but when I called 
to him to have a cot prepared, and he at the same moment saw his poor friend lying in 
the bottom of the boat, he threw up his eyes, and burst into a flood of tears and lamen- 
tations. Hamilton alone appeared tranquil and composed. We then conveyed him as 
tenderly as possible up to the house. The distresses of this amiable family were such 
that, till the first shock was abated, they were scarcely able to summon fortitude enough 

to yield sufficient assistance to their dying friend During the night he had 

some imperfect sleep, but the succeeding morning his symptoms were aggravated, attend- 
ed, however, with a diminution of pain. His mind retained all its usual strength and 
composure. The great source of his anxiety seemed to be in his sympathy with his half- 
distracted wife and children. He spoke to me frequently of them. ' My beloved wife 



236 HUDSON COUNTY. 

and children,' were always his expressions. But his fortitude triumphed over his situa- 
tion, dreadful as it was ; once, indeed, at the sight of his little children, brought to the 
bedside together, seven in number, his utterance forsook him ; he opened his eyes, gave 
them one look, and closed them again until they were taken away. As a proof of his 
extraordinary composure, let me add that he alone could calm the frantic grief of their 
mother. ' Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian." were the expressions with which 
he frequently, with a firm voice, but in a pathetic and impressive manner, addressed her. 
His words, and the tone in which they were uttered, will never be effaced from my 
memory. At about two o'clock he expired." 

After his death, a paper was found in his own handwriting, containing his reasons 
for accepting the challenge — and also confirming his own words, that it was not his in- 
tention to fire at Col. Burr. He gave his testimony against duelling in the same paper, 
in these words : " My religious and moral principles are strongly opposed to the practice 
of duelling. It would ever give me pain to be obliged to shed the blood of a fellow-crea- 
ture in a private combat forbidden by the laws. My wife and children are extremely 
dear to me, and my life is of the utmost importance to them, in various views." He 
also gave unequivocal evidence of his firm reliance on the merits of a Saviour for par- 
doning mercy, and at his earnest request, the evening before his death, the sacrament of 
the Lord's supper was administered to him. In his interview with the Rev. Dr. Mason, 
a few hours before his death, he said, " Duelling was always against my principles ; I 
used every expedient to avoid the interview ; but I have found, for some time past, that 
my life must be exposed to that man. I went to the field determined not to take his life." 

Immediately after his decease, the bells announced that he was no more. Early on 
the morning of Saturday, the day of his funeral, all the bells were muffled and tolled 
with little intermission until the procession reached the church, somewhere between one 
and two o'clock. The ships in the harbor exhibited their colors at half-mast, and min- 
ute-guns were fired from the forts. The procession consisted of the clergy of all de- 
nominations — gentlemen of the bar — students at law — strangers — members of the dif- 
ferent incorporated bodies, together with the citizens — all anxious to testify their sense 
of Hamilton's worth. The side-walks were crowded with spectators — the windows 
were filled — and many climbed up into trees, and got upon the tops of houses. Not a 
smile was visible — scarcely a whisper was heard — all was weeping, mourning, and wo. 
"When the procession reached Trinity Church, Mr. Gouverneur Morris delivered an oration 
from a stage that had been erected for the purpose in the portico of the church. After 
the oration, the corpse was carried to the grave, where the funeral service was performed 
by the Rev. Bishop Moore. The troops, which had formed an extensive hollow square 
in the church-yard, closed the solemnities with three volleys over the grave. 

On opening the will of the deceased, a letter was found addressed by him to Mrs. 
Hamilton, written on the 4th inst., in which he assured her he had taken all possible 
measures to avoid the duel, except by acting in a manner which would justly forfeit her 
esteem — that he had determined not to fire at him — and should certainly fall. He begged 
her forgiveness for causing her so much pain, and commended her to that God who 
would never desert her. 

The whole nation was now literally in tears. It has in fact been questioned whether 
the death of Washington excited a more universal gloom. All party feeling was swal- 
lowed up in grief — all united in the general voice of sorrow, " Our Hamilton is no 7noret. n ' 

The following is from the Albany Centinel of August 29 : " On Sunday last, the af- 
flicted Mrs. Hamilton attended divine service in this city with her three little sons. At 
the close of a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Nott, the eldest dropped on his face in a fainting-fit. 
Two gentlemen immediately raised him, and while bearing him out, the afflicted mother, 
in the agonies of grief and despair, sprang forward towards her apparently lifeless son. 
The heart-rending scene with which she had recently struggled, called forth all the fine- 
spun sensibilities of her nature, and seemed to say, that nature must and will be in- 
dulged in her keenest sorrows. She was overpowered in the conflict, and likewise sunk, 
uttering such heart-rending groans, as would have melted into sympathy even Burr him- 
self. Both soon recovered — and while the little son was supported, standing on the steps, 
yet speechless, the most affecting scene presented itself — a scene which, could it be placed 
on canvass by the hand of a master, would be in the highest degree interesting and im- 
pressive. The mother fastened upon her son, with her head reclining on his shoulder — 
agony strongly painted on her countenance — her long flowing weeds — the majesty of her 
person — the position of both — and above all, the peculiarity of their trying situation in 
the recent loss of a husband and father. Who could refrain from invoking on the head 
of the guilty author of their miseries, those curses he so richly merits ? — the curse of 



HUDSON COUNTY. 



237 



living, despised and execrated by the voice of a whole nation — the curse of being held 
up to the view of future ages — a monster and an assassin." 



In July, 1780, Washington, having received information that 
there were considerable numbers of cattle in Bergen Neck, in 
reach of the enemy, detached Gen. Wayne to bring them off, and 
at the same time attack a blockhouse which stood on the Hudson 
river, in this township, about half a mile below Bull's Ferry and 
the present line of Bergen co. [See page 75.] It was on the oc- 
casion of this expedition that Major Andre wrote the poem entitled 
the " Cow Chace" which was printed by Rivington, printer to his 
majesty, in New York. It consists of stanzas divided into three 
cantos. It is said that Andre gave the printer the last canto the 
day before he left New York, on the enterprise which cost him his 
life. The poem appeared in the Royal Gazette on the morning 
of the day he was taken. The following stanzas are selected from 
it ; the last of which appears somewhat prophetic. 



To drive the kine one summer's morn 

The tanner took his way ; 
The calf shall rue that is unborn 

The jumbling of that day. 

And Wayne descending steers shall know, 

And tauntingly deride, 
And call to mind in every low 

The tanning of his hide. 

Yet Bergen cows still ruminate 

Unconscious in the stall, 
What mighty means were used to get 

And lose them after all. 

For many heroes bold and brave, 
From New Bridge and Tapaan, 

And those that drink Passaick's wave, 
And those that eat soupaan ; 

And sons of distant Delaware, 

And still remoter Shannon, 
And Major Lee with horses rare, 

And Proctor with his cannon : 



I, under cover of th' attack, 
Whilst you are all at blows, 

From English Neighb'rood and Tinack 
Will drive away the cows. 



At Irvine's nod 'twas fine to see 

The left prepare to fight, 
The while the drovers, Wayne and Lee, 

Drew off upon the right. 



Sublime upon his stirrups rose 

The mighty Lee behind, 
And drove the terror-smitten cows 

Like chaff before the wind. 

But sudden see the woods above 
Pour down another corps ; 

All helter-skelter in a drove, 
Like that I sung before. 

Irvine and terror in the van 

Came flying all abroad ; 
And cannon, colors, horse, and man, 

Ran tumbling: to the road. 



In his dismay the frantic priest 

Beejan to grow prophetic ; 
You'd swore, to see his lab'ring breast, 

He'd taken an emetic. 



This solemn prophecy, of course, 
Gave all much consolation, 

Except to Wayne, who lost his horse 
Upon the great occasion. 

His horse that carried all his prog, 

His military speeches, 
His cornstalk-whiskey for his grog, 

Blue stockings and brown breeches. 

And now I've closed my epic strain, 

I tremble as I show it, 
Lest this same warrior-drover, Wayne, 

Should ever catch the poet. 



238 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 



VAN VORST. 

Van Vorst was taken from Bergen in 1841 ; and named from the 
Van Vorst family, who are extensive landholders in this section. 
It has long been settled by the Dutch. Within its limits was the 
ancient town or settlement known as Ahassimus. It is about 1£ 
miles long, by \ a mile wide. It is bounded on the N. by North 
Bergen, E. by the Hudson river and Jersey City, S. by New York 
bay, and W. by Bergen and North Bergen. It forms, with Jersey 
City, an island, cut off from the remaining portion of the county by 
the Creek of the Woods. The whole of this tract, including Jer- 
sey City, is laid out in city lots, and is fast being built upon, and 
ere many years will be densely populated. Van Vorst now con- 
tains 1 Baptist church, 1 Dutch Reformed church, and a population 
of about 1,500. 



HUNTERDON COUNTY, 

Hunterdon co. was set off from Burlington co., in 1713, and 
named after Gov. Robert Hunter. Its limits have since been re- 
duced by the formation of Warren, Sussex, Morris, and Mercer cos. 
Its extreme length, N. and S., is 31 m. ; width, E. and W., 24 m. It 
is bounded NW. by Warren co., S. by Mercer co., E. by Somerset 
and Morris cos., and SW. by the Delaware river. It is somewhat 
mountainous, though agreeably diversified with hills, table-lands, 
and broad valleys. Sourland, or Rock mountain, extends along the 
whole line between this and Mercer co. There is a continuous 
ridge of hills running from Bool's island, on the Delaware, in a NE. 
direction, crossing the S. branch of the Raritan at Williamsport, 
extending nearly across the centre of the county, and terminating 
in the Kushetunk or Hog mountain, near White House village. 
The Musconetcong mountains extend from the junction of the Mus- 
conetcong and Delaware rivers, across the N. tier of townships, to 
Morris co., branching to the SE. as they approach Lebanon and 
Tewksbury, into several distinct spurs, known as the Spruce Run 
hills, Fox hill, &c. These elevations are sources of many never- 
failing streams, that fertilize the valleys and furnish abundant 
water-power. 

The south branch of the Raritan is a noble mill-stream, entering 
the county in a SW. direction from Morris co., through the German 
valley. It there forms a crescent, gradually curving to the left, 
watering seven townships, and then crossing the Somerset line. 
The Alexsockin, Nechanic, Wickechecoke, Laokatong, Nischisaco- 
wick, Rockaway, and Spruce rivers, are considerable mill-streams. 

There is a great variety of soil in the county. The south part, 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 239 

embracing a strip of land about 2 miles wide, along Sourland 
mountain, is a cold, clayey, rocky soil : between this and the hills 
extending from Bool's island to Kushetunk, is a beautiful, highly- 
cultivated, rolling country. The soil is principally red shale, lying 
generally from one to six feet below the surface. On the summit 
of this ridge, from Bool's island and next the Delaware, is a broad 
table-land known as the Great Swamp, covering an area of nearly 
50 square miles. Between the Great Swamp and Musconetcong 
mountains, and bordering on the Delaware, is another similar tract 
of red shale, extending over a greater part of Alexandria. East 
of this, come the valleys of the Capoolen, South Branch, and Round 
valley, where is the great limestone region of the county. The 
soil is a rich clayey loam, generally highly-cultivated. Limestone 
is also found in the German valley and along the Musconetcong. 
Bordering on Alexandria and Bethlehem, is another table-land, 
about the same extent as the Great Swamp, called The Barrens. 
Iron ore abounds among the hills on the north, from which, for- 
merly, several furnaces and forges were supplied. 
Hunterdon co. is divided into 10 townships, viz : — 
Alexandria, Bethlehem, Delaware, Lebanon, Readington, 
Amwell, Clinton, Kingwood, Raritan, Tewksbury. 

The population of the county, in 1840, was 24,797. 



ALEXANDRIA. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is about 8 m. long, 
6 wide ; bounded. NW. by Greenwich, Warren co., SE. by King- 
wood, SW. by the Delaware, and NE. by Bethlehem. There are 
in the township 10 stores, 6 flouring-m., 4 grist-m., 10 saw-m., 3 
oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $139,955; 9 schools, 420 scholars. Pop. 
3,420. 

Milford is in a fertile country, upon the Delaware ; 15 m. NW. 
of Flemington, and 12 below Easton, Penn. The engraving shows 
its appearance when approached from the south on the River-road. 
The Presbyterian church is seen on the right. The Christ-ian 
church is a substantial stone building in the central part of the 
village. Thompson's hill, a beautiful, romantic eminence, 200 or 
300 feet in height, appears in the background. Milford contains 
3 stores, 3 taverns, 12 or 15 mechanic shops, 1 merchant and 2 
saw m., 2 churches, and 45 dwellings. There is a fine bridge 
across the Delaware, built in 1841, at an expense of about $20,000. 
The lumber trade is carried on extensively in this thriving village. 
Milford, forty years since, contained a grist and 2 saw m., a black- 
smith shop, a store, and a few dwellings only. Its original name 
was Burnt Mills, from some mills destroyed here by fire, at an early 
day, and later it was called Lowreytown. For thirty-five years past, 
it has borne its present name. The Christ-ian church was built 



240 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 



about fifteen years since, and as females were admitted to partici- 
pate in the ministry, a Mrs. Roberds, for the first year or two, 
preached to the congregation. The Presbyterian church was 
erected in 1835, and the Rev. Mr. Henshaw was the first settled 
clergyman. 




mmmemim 






Southern View of Milford. 

Frenchtown, on the Delaware, 4 miles below Milford, has 1 grist- 
in., 1 saw-m., 2 stores, 3 taverns, several mechanic shops, and 
25 dwellings. At this place is a neat bridge across the Delaware. 
Little York, 4 miles N. of Milford, is a flourishing village, sprung 
into existence within a few years. It has an oil-m., and 2 grist-m., 
a store, 1 tavern, several mechanics, and about 16 dwellings. 
Mount Pleasant, 3 miles N. of Milford, is, as its name implies, plea- 
santly situated upon rising ground, where there is a Presbyterian 
church, a tavern, store, several mechanics, and about 15 dwell- 
ings. Everittstown, in a handsome valley on the Nischisakawick 
creek, 4 miles E. of Milford, is a village of about the same size as 
the above, and contains a Methodist church. Pittstown, on the SE. 
corner of the township, contains 2 stores, a tavern, grist-m., and 
about 12 dwellings. 



AMWELL. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 12 miles long, 
extending across the southern line of the county, and is about 13 
miles wide ; bounded NW. by Delaware and Raritan, SE. by Hope- 
well, Mercer co. ; W. by the Delaware river, and E. by Hillsbo- 
rough, Somerset co. Top. 3,071. The Sourland or Rock mountain 
extends along its SE. boundary. The soil of the northern portion 
is fertile ; there are in the township 1 stores, 1 grist-m., 6 saw-m., 1 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 



241 



oil-m., 1 flouring-m., 1 fulling-m. ; cap. in manufac. $40,950 ; 1 1 
schools, 331 scholars. Pop. 3,071. 

In the olden times rattlesnakes were numerous in this vicinity. 
Smith in his history says — " One Robins, in Amwell, at a spot on his 
own plantation, had upwards of ninety rattlesnakes killed in each 
of three springs successively. The parties performing it barked 
young chestnut-trees of the size of their own legs and tied them on ; 
and thus accoutred, they effected their business without much dan- 
ger ; but the snakes frequently bit the bark." 







uuililltMuinmuim)tiiAn-SL'LMLijai]u;'it)^l^lliflllmiiBtfffi.til 



jglgqiprE 




View of Lambertville from New Hope, Penn. 

Lambertville is the most populous and nourishing village in 
Hunterdon co. It is on the Delaware river, opposite New Hope, 
Penn., 12 miles from Flemington and 16 from Trenton, and con- 
tains 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, and 1 Methodist church, 7 mercan- 
tile stores, 16 mechanic shops, 2 brick-yards, 2 large grist and 3 
saw-m., 4 lime-kilns, 2 iron foundries, an academy, 10 or 12 store- 
houses, and a population of nearly 1,000. The village is beautifully 
situated on a narrow plain, bounded on the E. by a range of hills. 
The town is built on eight streets, four parallel and four at right 
angles to the river. The feeder of the Delaware and Raritan canal 
passes through the village, and is navigable for sloops and schoon- 
ers. On it is a water-power of 18 feet fall, which, from the adap- 
tation of the sites for factories, and the facilities for getting to the 
New York and Philadelphia markets, renders it a favorable situa- 
tion for manufacturing and other business. A considerable business 
is done on the feeder. About a dozen of canal boats are owned 
here, and steamboats and boats for the canal are built in the 
village. A fine covered bridge connects this place with New 
Hope, Pennsylvania, which is nearly as populous as Lambertville. 
Through that village runs the Pennsylvania canal, connecting with 
the coal region of that state. 

Lambertville is on the site of CoryeVs Ferry, a noted place in the 

31 



242 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

war of the revolution. In 1732, Emanuel Coryel, who was of 
French descent, removed from Somerset co., purchased here a large 
tract of land, built a hut, and established a ferry. A stone tavern 
shortly after built by him is now occupied as a dwelling. It is 
about 20 rods below the bridge where the ferry then was. In 1748, 
he sold to Job Wharford a small piece of land on what is now the 
W. side of Main-st., about 120 feet from the corner of York-st., on 
which the purchaser erected a tavern, and Coryel closed the one at 
the ferry. In 1797 there were but four dwellings here, occupied 
then by Joseph Lambert, George Hoppock, George Tanner, George 
Coryel, &c. It was then called Georgetown, which name it retained 
until the late war, when a post-office was established, and it was 
named Lambertville, from its first postmaster, John Lambert, Esq. 
The Presbyterian church was built in 1817, the Baptist in 1825, and 
the Methodist in 1838. 

In the disastrous retreat of the American army through New 
Jersey, just previous to the victory at Trenton, a portion of the 
troops crossed at Coryel's ferry. Cornwallis attempted to seize 
some of the boats which they had used, but being well guarded by 
Lord Stirling, his efforts proved abortive. Some time in the war a 
portion of the American army were here under Washington, who 
had his head-quarters in the dwelling of Richard Holcomb, a stone 
mansion now standing about a quarter of a mile N. of the village 
centre, and occupied by his son, John Holcomb, Esq. General 
Greene's head-quarters were in the dwelling of George Coryel, now 
down. 

Just below Lambertville, on the Delaware, are Wells' Falls, where 
the river descends about 14 feet in three fourths of a mile. The 
passage of rafts at this place is an interesting sight. They shoot 
down with great velocity, and as the stream is filled with rock, 
it requires the utmost care and skill in the raftsmen to avoid foun- 
dering. 

Mount Airy, Rocktown, Snidertown, and Clover Hill, contain each 
a few dwellings. At the first is a Presbyterian, and at the last a 
Dutch Reformed church. The village of Ringoes, in a delightful 
valley, (5 miles S. of Flemington, contains about 20 dwellings, and 
near it is a Presbyterian church. It derives its name from John 
Ringo, who about 1720 settled in this place, then a wilderness. He 
built a log cabin, where he was obliged to entertain travellers, there 
being no house near, and he at a point where the paths crossed, 
along which travellers occasionally passed from some settlements 
in Pennsylvania to the eastern part of Jersey. After a while this 
became a noted resting-place for travellers, and the public house 
known as "Ringo's Old Tavern" was, according to tradition, kept 
by John Ringo, his son, and grandson, for about 70 years. About 
the year 1840, this old tavern, upon the sign of which was a por- 
trait of Washington, and, in large letters, " Ringo's Old Tavern," 
was destroyed by fire. The first proprietor and his descendants lie 
buried in a small yard near the village, their graves marked with 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 



243 



initial letters, and surrounded by a rude stone wall. The family- 
name is now believed to be extinct, though some of the descend- 
ants on the female side are living. It is only retained in the name 
of the village. Ringoes is also the name of the post-office, and the 
only one so named in the world. Near the village was erected the 
first Presbyterian church in the county. The time is not exactly 
known, but it was more than a century since. 



BETHLEHEM. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is about 8 miles 
long, 7 broad ; bounded NW. by Franklin, Mansfield, and Green- 
wich, Warren co. ; SE. by Kingwood, SW. by Alexandria, and 
NE. by Lebanon and Clinton. The Musconetcong mountains run 
across the N. part of the township. There are several small ham- 
lets, but no villages entirely within its limits. Clinton is partly on 
its SE. corner, and Bloomsbury on the angle of Alexandria and 
Bethlehem, Hunterdon co., and Greenwich, Warren co. The town- 
ship contains 5 stores, 5 grist-m., 3 saw-m., 1 oil-m. : cap. in manu- 
fac. $7,725 ; 6 schools, 166 scholars. Pop. 2,370. 




Northern View of Bloomsbury. 

Bloomsbury is a thriving village, in the delightful valley of the 
Musconetcong river, 18 miles from Flemington, 16 from Belvidere, 
49 from Trenton, and 6 from Easton, Pa. There are here 2 stores, 
1 tavern, several mechanic shops, an oil-m., weaving-shop, a large 
merchant-mill, a cotton factory, a Methodist church, and 35 dwell- 
ings. The annexed view, taken on the N. bank of the Musconet- 
cong, shows the principal part of the village, which lies on the 
Hunterdon side of the stream. The large building seen on the left, 
near the stone bridge, is the merchant-mill of Green and Runkles, 
and on the right the cotton factory belonging to that firm. The 
building with a cupola, in the background, is the Methodist 



244 HUXTERDOX COUNTY. 

church : and at the distance of a mile the Musconetcong moun- 
tains are seen, rising to the height of several hundred feet. From 
their summit a splendid view is had to the N., the eye stretching 
over a great extent of country, diversified with mountains, hills, 
and valleys ; and comprehending within its range several pic- 
turesque villages, and the borough of Easton. Pa. 

Bordering on this and Alexandria township, are the table-lands 
called u The Barrens," occupying an area of nearly 50 square 
miles. The soil is a mixture of clay. sand, and gravel, filled with 
smooth pebbles. This tract was formerly little cultivated ; but 
since lime was introduced as a manure, it has been ascertained 
that the soil may be made very productive, and sutlers no more 
from drought than the alluvial bottoms. A considerable portion of 
it is covered exclusively with chestnut-trees, owned by the farmers 
on the lowlands, and kept by them as nurseries, from whence to 
obtain fencing-timber. When the chestnut is cut off, a new 
growth immediately sprouts out around the stumps, and in 25 or 30 
years is large enough to cut again. Tradition asserts that the In- 
dians used to burn over the barrens to supply themselves with 
game, immense numbers of which there sought a covert. 



C L I X T O X . 

Clinton was formed from Lebanon, in 1841. It is 8 miles long, 
5 wide : and is bounded X. by Lebanon. S. by Readington, E. by 
Tewksbury and Readington, and W. by Bethlehem and Kingwood. 
The S. branch of Rariton river runs for several miles on the W. 
boundary, and crosses the NW. corner. Pop. 2.373. Lebanon is on 
the Easton and New Brunswick turnpike : and contains a tavern, 
a store, several mechanic shops, a Reformed Dutch church, and 
about a dozen dwellings. 

The village of Clinton is in a delightful champaign valley, on 
the south branch of the Rariton, on the post-road from New Bruns- 
wick, and 10 miles XE. of Flemington. It was formerly known 
as Hunt's mills ; so named from ah early proprietor of its valuable 
water-power. Though the surrounding country was early settled, 
the village has grown to its present size since the establishment of 
a post-office in 1838. In 1820 there were but three houses in what 
is now the compact part of the village, viz : the yellow house near 
the mill, the dwelling owned by Henry N. Cline, Esq.. a few rods 
XE.. and a small one now down, which stood on the hill. Besides 
these there was a tannery in the vicinity, and several mills belong- 
ing to Mr. Hunt. It now contains 3 mercantile stores, 2 large 
merchant-mills, with one of which an oil-mill is connected ; 3 pub- 
lic houses, about 15 mechanic shops of various kinds, a brick-yard, 
a valuable limestone quarry, 3 churches, 62 dwellings, and 520 in- 
habitants. 

The Presbyterian church was erected in 1830 ; and in 1S31 a re- 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 



245 



ligious society was constituted. The first settled minister, the Rev. 
Alexander Macklin, entered upon the duties of his office in April, 
1832, and continued until near the close of 1835. He was succeed- 
ed by the Rev. Arthur B. Bradford, June, 1835, who remained until 
October, 1838. The present pastor, the Rev. Albert Williams, was 




View of Clinton from Quarry Hill. 

called to the pastoral charge in December, 1838. The Episcopal 
church was built in 1838 : its first rector was the Rev. Wm. C. Crane, 
who was succeeded in 1839 by the present incumbent, the Rev. 
James Adams. The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1840 ; 
and religious services have been regularly maintained by travelling 
preachers. Two schools have been established in the village : one 
is a grammar and classical school, founded and taught by the Rev. 
Albert Williams, and promises a rich advantage for the dissemina- 
tion of intelligence and literature to the adjacent community. The 
region contiguous to the village is very fertile. In the valley are 
immense beds of limestone, which for many years have proved a 
valuable source of wealth to the proprietors, and a means of fertil- 
izing a wide district of the surrounding country. About 3 miles N. 
of the village, in the mountain range, which is a continuation of 
Schooley's mountain, is an iron mine, which, half a century since, 
yielded a vast amount of metal for the Union forge and furnace, 
at the base of the mountain. The ore is still unexhausted ; the 
working of the mine having been discontinued only on account of 
the inconvenience of procuring fuel for the manufacturing estab- 
lishment. 



DELAWARE. 

This township was formed from the NW. part of Amwell, in 
1838. It is about 7 miles long, 6 broad ; and is bounded NW. by 



246 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

Kingwood, SE. by Amwell, NE. by Raritan, and SW. by the Dela- 
ware river. There are in the township 7 stores, 6 grist-m., 6 saw- 
m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $12,360; 8 schools, 227 scholars. 
Pop. 2,305. It is watered by the Alexsockin, Wickhecheoke, and 
Laokatong creeks, which empty into the Delaware. Sergeants- 
ville, 6 miles SW. of Flemington, contains a store, tavern, and a 
few mechanics ; a neat Methodist church, lately erected, of stone, 
and stuccoed ; and about a dozen dwellings. Head Quarters, 6 
miles from Flemington, contains a store, 2 grist-mills, and 8 dwell- 
ings. Bool's Island, so named from an island in the Delaware, is 
at the head of the feeder of the Delaware and Raritan canal, and 
contains a store, tavern, and 12 or 15 dwellings. Prallsville, on 
the Delaware river, 4 miles above Lambertville, contains a store, 
tavern, a plaster, oil, grist, and saw mill, and a few dwellings. 
Half a mile below is the Centre Bridge, over the Delaware. 



The annexed account of the great freshet in the Delaware river, 
in Jan. 1841, is from the Hunterdon Gazette of that date : 

The heavy rain which fell last week, together with the melting of the large quantity 
of snow and ice upon the ground, caused the streams to swell to a height not known be- 
fore for many years. The ground, being covered with a crust of ice several inches in 
thickness, absorbed none of the water upon its surface ; and consequently the whole 
body was thrown together into the small streams, and thence conducted into the larger 
ones, causing them to rise to an unprecedented height, and destroy an immense amount 
of property, in the shape of bridges, buildings of various kinds, lumber, flour, grain, 
household furniture, &c, &c. More damage to bridges in this county, we believe, was 
done by the freshet of 1839, in consequence of the greater quantity of ice upon the 
streams ; but the Delaware river never before made such havoc. We have heard that 
not a bridge is left standing between Easton and Trenton ; those at Reiglesville, Centre 
Bridge, New Hope, Taylorsville, and Yardleyville, having all yielded to the resistless 
power of the flood. The cost of each of the two latter was about .$20,000 ; the New 
Hope $69,000 ; the Centre Bridge probably ,$30,000 or $40,000, and Reiglesville about 
$20,000. The guard-lock of the feeder, at Bool's island, is torn away. Johnson's tav- 
ern, a short distance below, is entirely swept away, with the principal part of its con- 
tents. The following letter gives some account of the damage done at and near Lam- 
bertville : 

Lambertville. January 8, 1841, ) 
(Friday Evening.) ^ 

Rapid Rise in the Delaware River — Great Destruction of Property, <$-c. — This 
has been a day of general excitement throughout the village and neighborhood, and 
doubtless will be long remembered. We have just returned from witnessing a scene that 
no pen can adequately describe. At an early hour this morning, we heard the roaring 
of the waters, and hastened to the scene of destruction. The river was then filled with 
floating masses of timber, &c., consisting principally of piles of lumber, logs, and frag- 
ments of buildings. The river was then rising at a rapid rate, and continued to rise un- 
til about three o'clock, when it appeared to be on a stand. It is now some five or six 
feet higher than it was ever known before, by the oldest inhabitants. The canal had 
rapidly filled, in consequence of the river breaking in above this place, and threatened 
destruction to that part of the town, and to the extensive mills, &c. on the Water-power. 
The citizens were preparing to leave their houses, when the large waste-weir, opposite 
Holcomb's basin, about half a mile above the village, by the force of water, gave way ; 
which seemed providential — else the consequence might have been serious indeed, if the 
canal had given way in the town. The lumber-yards, storehouses, mills, &c., and other 
property situated along the river, were in imminent peril throughout the day. About 
half past ten o'clock, fears began to be entertained for the safety of the New Hope Del- 
aware bridge ; the river was then nearly up to the bridge. The ice and drift-stuff in- 
creased, and struck the piers and timbers of the bridge with tremendous force. Large 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 247 

coal-boats, heavy saw-logs, and cakes of ice were lodging against it, and had forced 
apart one or two of the piers, on the Jersey side. About 11 o'clock we heard the as- 
tounding cry, from many voices, that Centre Bridge was coming down, as we antici- 
pated. All eyes were fixed upon two large massive pieces of the bridge, which were 
seen floating down, a short distance above, by the resistless current, in terrific grandeur. 
The feelings of the spectators, at that moment, were deep and thrilling, and may be 
imagined, but cannot be described. One of the pieces struck about midway, with an 
awful crash ; passed through, and carried away one of the arches of the bridge. The 
other soon followed, and took with it another arch, on the Jersey side. The Jersey pier 
soon gave way, and the third arch followed, and lodged a short distance below. Thus 
one half of this noble structure, which has stood the freshets for nearly thirty years, has 
been suddenly carried away. The other part, on the Pennsylvania side, still remained 
when we left, although much shattered. 

The destruction of property, along the whole line of the Delaware and Lehigh, we 
fear, is very great ; and where it is to end, He who holds the winds and rain in the 
hollow of his hand only can tell. The canal has doubtless sustained much injury. If 
the river should take a second rise, the consequences may be still more awful. To de- 
scribe the scenes we have witnessed to-day is painful in the extreme. Yours, &c. 

Saturday Morning, (7 o'clock.) 

I have just time to add, the river fell near two feet last night, and is still going down. 
Our mills, &c, as far as we have heard, have sustained not the least injury. This is a 
gratifying evidence of the security and permanency of our Water-power. The milling 
establishments, so important and beneficial to the whole community, this morning stand 
" firm as the surge-repelling rocks." 

Perilous Situation and Providential Escape. — George B. Fell, of Centre Bridge, was 
carried away by the freshet, and floated down the river to within about three miles of 
Trenton, where he was taken up in a batteau. When he passed New Hope bridge, he 
was upon a loose plank, and was obliged to lie flat upon It, to avoid touching the bridge. 
Attempts were made in vain to rescue him, at that and various other places. When he 
had passed under the Yardlcyville bridge, and floated a few yards below, the wholo 
structure was precipitated into the stream, just behind him. He continued to float on 
with the current, gathering pieces of lumber, which he kept together ; forming a sort of 
raft, by which he was enabled to steer into the still water, where he was taken up in 
safety. 

Mr. Fell had engaged to attend to the receipt of tolls, at Centre Bridge, during a tem- 
porary absence of the gatekeeper ; and was crossing over the bridge, for that purpose, 
when it floated off". Fearing danger from the crushing of timbers overhead, and seeing 
a portion of the roof of the bridge floating near him, he succeeded, by the aid of a plank, 
in reaching it, and freeing himself from the main body of the bridge. He thus floated 
down with the bridge, almost dry, suffering but little from cold, until he reached Yard- 
leyville bridge ; where he struck a pier, and the water splashed upon and wet him, ren- 
dering his situation more uncomfortable. After his rescue, he immediately proceeded 
to Lambertville, where he was received with the most extravagant demonstrations of joy 
by the citizens, who immediately raised a telegraph, announcing his safe arrival, and 
fired a cannon, which was responded to from the opposite shore, in the most clamorous 
shouts and cheering from the joyous multitude. Mr. Fell, being satisfied that his friends 
were apprized of his safety, then retired to bed, and took a refreshing sleep ; and we pre- 
sume crossed the river as soon as safety would permit, and returned to his anxious 
family. 

The Society of Dunkers have a church (a plain frame 
building) in the central part of this township, about a mile NE. 
from Head Quarters. This singular people appear to have had 
their origin among the Pietists in Germany, in the year 1708. In 
this year a society was formed, consisting of eight persons, whose 
spiritual leader was a miller, by the name of Alexander Mack, 
who rebaptized them, as they considered their infant baptism as 
unavailing. The word Danker, by which they are known, is stated 
to be a corruption of the German Tanker, the signification of which 
is Dippers, or Baptists by plunging — a title, as usual, given to them 



248 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

by others, because the person baptized by them was dipped or 
plunged three times under water. 

The sentiments of the Dunkers having extended among the Pie- 
tists, they were somewhat persecuted. In the fall of 1719, Peter 
Becker, with a company of Dunkers, came to Pennsylvania, and 
settled in Germantown, where their numbers soon increased, and 
societies were formed in other places. Their principal settlement 
was at Ephrata, in Lancaster co. The following, descriptive of 
the Dunkers at this place, about the year 1750, is probably true 
with regard to their practices and tenets elsewhere : 

" An apartment is appropriated to each person, that their devotion may have no inter- 
ruption. Females have a portion of the town allotted to them : they have no commu- 
nication with the men, except in matters of religion, and what may be necessary in the 
management of their concerns. If any desire to marry, they leave the Society, and 
they are entitled to draw out of the public treasury their shares ; but they settle in the 
vicinity of the Society, and send their children to be educated among their brothers and 
sisters. Economy and piety are strictly observed. The winter's dress is a long white 
gown, fastened with a belt around the waist : behind bangs the cap. They wear no 
hats — a waistcoat, shirt, trousers, and shoes. In summer their garments are made of 
linen ; in winter, of cloth. The women wear the same as the men, except that instead 
of trousers they wear petticoats ; and they conceal their faces when they walk out of 
their houses. The men let their beards grow, and crop their hair. Their number con- 
sists of about 300 men and women. They live on vegetables, and will not touch animal 
food ; hence they are lean of body, of a pale complexion, and apparently bloodless. 
Their recreations are connected with their religious duties. They worship lour times in 
twenty-four hours. In lieu of beds, they sleep upon benches, and use a little wooden 
block for a pillow. Each room is supplied with a couple of these conveniences. 

" The President of the Dunkers received a regular education, at Halle, in Germany. 
He was originally a minister of the Calvinist church ; but, becoming dissatisfied, he 
left that church, and joined the Dunkers. He was open, affable, familiar, easy of ac- 
cess, and agreeable in conversation. ' My principles, or rather those of my brethren, are 
as follows, (thus he says :) We retain both sacraments ; adults only are admitted to 
baptism. We deny original sin. It is immoral to use violence at any time, but our duty 
to submit. We think going to law is not according to Christianity, and is expressly for 
bidden. We observe the Jewish sabbath. We have no regular form of worship. Our 
discourses treat of the Christian virtues — humility, temperance, chastity, fortitude, &c 
We believe the dead had the gospel preached to them by our Saviour, and after his resur 
rection the souls of the holy preached the gospel to those who had not the Scripture re 
vealed to them, or who were ignorant of its truth and beauty. We deny eternal punish 
ment. Those souls who become sensible of God's great goodness and clemency, and 
acknowledge his lawful authority, and that he is just, wise, and good, without a stain 
or blemish, and that Christ is the only true Son of God, are received into happiness ; 
but those who continue obstinate are kept in darkness, until the great day, when light 
will make all happy.' " 

Soon after the Dunkers emigrated to this country, they were 
divided in sentiment respecting the observance of the sabbath ; 
some contending it should be on the seventh, others on the first day 
of the week. In the year 1728, Conrad Beissel wrote a treatise in 
favor of the seventh-day observance ; and from that time onward, 
says the Chronicon, (a Dunker publication.) it was kept alike by 
all the Society. Notwithstanding the peaceable principles of the 
Dunkers, they have had their troubles, as well as all other denom- 
inations, in the management of their religious affairs.* The fra- 

* From time to time schisms occurred among the Lancaster county Tunkers, and an- 
other distinct society was formed, near the Concstogoe, in opposition to Beissel. The 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 249 

ternity of Ephrata Dunkers is believed to be nearly extinct; 
and those of the name, in other places, differ but very little, in 
their customs, &c, from other denominations of Christians. 



KINGWOOD. 

This township was formed in 1798. It is about 14 miles long, 4 
wide, and is bounded N W. by Alexandria and Bethlehem, SE. by 
Delaware and Raritan, E. by Clinton, and W. by the Delaware 
river. The township contains 8 stores, 6 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $12,075; 6 schools, 157 scholars. Pop. 2,947. The 
Laokatong runs centrally through the township. Baptist-town, 9 
miles W. of Flemington, contains a store, tavern, several mechan- 
ics, 2 Baptist churches, and about a dozen dwellings. Quaker- 
town, 6 miles from Flemington, has a tavern, store, 1 Friends 
meeting-house, a Methodist church, and about 20 dwellings. Mill- 
town is a small settlement near the SW. corner of the township. 
Cherryville is a small flourishing settlement near Quaker-town. 
Allerton, 4 miles from Flemington, contains a Baptist church, 1 
steam saw-m., a store, a chair factory, and a few dwellings. 

The tract known as the " Great Swamp" extends into the town- 
ship. One would suppose from the name that this region was cov- 
ered with bogs and fens, but it is the dead level of the surface, 
which at certain seasons retains water, that has given rise to the 
name. In some places where the land is cleared, the eye may 
stretch for miles without resting on a solitary hillock. The soil is 
cold and clayey, and in many places stony; but when limed and 
well cultivated, yields heavy returns to the husbandman. The 
population is more dense here than in any other portion of the 
county of equal extent. 



LEBANON. 

Lebanon was incorporated in 1798, and reduced in 1841 by the 

two societies now lived in open dissension. In relation to this, both the Chronicon and 
Sangmeister, with a very serious air, tell the following anecdote : Joel, one of Beissel's 
brethren, went to the meeting of the Concstogoe people, and solemnly stepped in among 
them ; and, addressing the leader of the congregation, said, " To thee, J. H., these words, 
through me, from the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, from this day forth, thou shalt no 
longer go out to preach to others. And on this day it shall appear whether we or you 
are the congregation of the Lord. If God shall this day do a miracle on my person ; 
if here in your presence, and before your eyes, I fall down, like a dead man ; and if, by 
your prayers, I be made to rise up again to life, — then God hath not sent me to you, 
and you are God's people. But if / do not fall down like a dead man, but go, fresh and 
hearty, out of that door, then shall ye know that God hath indeed sent me, and that ye 
are not the people of the Lord. A week ago I told you, in your meeting, that there was 
a wolf among you: here, (taking one by the arm,) here is the wolf!" Upon this, Joel, 
turning his back upon them, went out of the door, fresh and hearty. Our authors make 
no further observation, taking it, probably, for granted that none was needed ; and that 
this might stand for an indubitable proof that Joel was the man, and his people the 
people. — Hazard's Reg. of Penn., vol. v., p. 333. 

32 



250 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

formation of Clinton from its southern portion. It is about 7 miles 
long, 5 broad, and is bounded 'NE. by Washington, Morris co.; SE. 
by Clinton and Tewksbury, SW. by Bethlehem, and NW. by Mans- 
field, Warren co. In 1840, previous to the formation of Clinton, 
its population was 3,848. Its surface is mountainous, the Musco- 
netcong mountains occupying a great portion of its territory. It is 
watered by the Musconetcong, South branch of Raritan, and 
►Spruce run. New Hampton, one of the oldest villages in this sec- 
tion, is pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Musconetcong, 
at the base of the Musconetcong mountains, about 18 miles N. of 
Flemington, and contains 2 stores, 2 taverns, several mechanics, 
and about 18 dwellings. South Hampton, one quarter of a mile 
from the village, has a blacksmith and a wheelwright's shop. 
Near here, on the road to Asbury, is a large and neat Presbyterian 
church, built of stone, stuccoed and pencilled. Clarksville, on the 
road from New Hampton to Clinton, 5 miles from the latter, is in a 
romantic and picturesque dell among the mountains, and contains 
a store, tavern, a few mechanics' shops, a saw and grist mill, and 
several dwellings. 



RARITAN. 

This township was formed from Amwell in 1838. It is about 7 
miles long, 5 wide, and is bounded N W. by Ringwood, SE. by Am- 
well, NE. by Readington, and SW. by Delaware. The N. portion 
is mountainous, the S. level, or undulating. The township contains 
9 stores, 4 grist-m., 4 saw-m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $14,400 ; 
15 schools, 351 scholars. Pop. 2.510. 

Greenville, on the SE. boundary of Raritan, on the road from 
Lambertville to Somerville, is a new and flourishing little village, 
containing a tavern, store, a few mechanics, about a dozen dwell- 
ings, and a neat Presbyterian church, lately erected. Flemington, 
the seat of justice for Hunterdon county, is 23 miles N. of Trenton, 
26 from New Brunswick, and 25 from Easton, Pa. It is pleasant- 
ly situated in the central part of the township, on an undulating 
plain, a mile S. of a high eminence, from which there is a fine pros- 
pect of the village and adjacent country. Flemington is principal- 
ly built on a single street, on which are many handsome dwellings, 
and the general appearance of the place is thriving and cheerful. 
There are here 2 newspaper printing-offices, several stores and 
mechanic shops, 4 hotels, the county buildings, 1 Methodist, 1 Bap- 
tist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Episcopal church, about 70 dwellings, 
and 600 inhabitants. 

The annexed is a view of the county buildings, centrally situated 
on the W. side of the main street. The courthouse is a large stone 
structure, rough cast, with Grecian front and Ionic columns. Its 
internal arrangements are convenient, and the court-room large. 
The basement is used for a prison, and the small brick structure on 



HUNTERDON COUNTY, 



251 



the right contains the county clerk's and surrogate's offices. In the 
court-room hangs the portrait of Thomas Potts Johnson, Esq. The 
following notice of this gentleman was written for this work by 
the Rev. Mr. Studdiford, of Lambertville. 




View of the County Buildings at Flcmington. 

Thomas P. Johnson. — Among the distinguished men who have adorned the New Jer- 
sey bar within the last fifty years, few in their day were held in higher repute for their 
eloquence and extensive legal knowledge, and especially for intellectual vigor and versa- 
tility of talent, than the individual whose name stands at the head of this article. He 
was born about the year 1761. His parents were Friends. His father, William Johnson, 
a native of Ireland, emigrated to this country about the middle of the last century. He 
married Ruth Potts, of Trenton, a sister of Stacy Potts, long known as a respectable 
citizen of that place. Thomas was their second child. When he was quite small, the 
family removed to Charleston, S. C, where his father established a flourishing boarding- 
school, and gained much repute by his lectures on various branches of Natural Philoso- 
phy. His fondness for such studies seemed to have been inherited by the son, who, even 
in his later years, continued to turn his attention to them. The father died at the south 
after a residence of some years. His mother, with five children, returned to her native 
state, and, with the aid of her brother, opened a store in Trenton. There Thomas was 
placed an apprentice to a carpenter* and joiner. After following this business some 
time, he was compelled, by a rupture of a blood-vessel in the lungs, to abandon it. He 
then engaged in teaching youth, first in this county, afterwards in Bucks co., Pa., and 
then in Philadelphia. For this business, lie had rare qualifications. Few men had such 
powers of communication : few could so simplify truth, and throw an interest around it 
to captivate the youthful mind. Of this, he gave a striking proof in his later years ; 
when he would amuse himself in instructing his grandchildren, creating a fondness for 
knowledge, and, with happy facility, developing their mental powers. 

While in Philadelphia, a mercantile house took him in partnership, and sent him to 
Richmond, Va., where the firm opened a large store. There he became well acquainted 
with the late Chief-justice Marshall, and often had the privilege of listening to the first 



* The annexed anecdote was communicated to the compilers of this volume by a resi- 
dent of Trenton. At one of the neighboring courts a dispute arose between Johnson and 
his opponent, respecting a point of law, during which, the latter remarked in a taunting, 
derisive manner, " that he was not to be taught law by a carpenter .'" " May it please 
your honors," replied Mr. J., " the gentleman has been pleased to allude to my having 
been a carpenter : true, I was a carpenter, — I am proud of it, — so was the reputed fa- 
ther of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; and I could yet, give me a block of wood, 
a mallet, and a chisel, hew out something that would very much resemble that gentle- 
man's head; true, I could not put in brains, but it would have more manners!" 



252 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

lawyers in the " Old Dominion." This, probably, led to his turning his thoughts to the 
bar. After a few years, the loss of his store and goods by fire, caused him to return to 
the scenes of his youthful days. He took up his residence at Princeton, and there mar- 
ried a daughter of Robert Stockton, Esq., and entered his name as a student of law in 
the office of the Hon. Richard Stockton. In due time he was admitted to the bar, and 
licensed first as an attorney, and then as a counsellor. Subsequently, he was raised to 
the rank of a Serjeant at law. His career at the bar was brilliant ; whether arguing 
points of law, or spreading a case before a jury, he was always heard with fixed atten- 
tion and lively interest. So lucid was he in arranging and expressing his thoughts ; he 
knew so well how to seize hold of strong points in a case, and when he pleased to touch 
the chords of feeling, that he seldom failed of producing an impression. He was no 
empty declaimer. His style of thought and expression was simple and natural. Not 
only at the bar, but in the social intercourse of life, his language was remarkably chaste 
and pure. Rarely ever would be heard a word misapplied or mispronounced. Persua- 
sion sat upon his lips. From impaired health, and especially the failure of his eyesight, 
his attention to professional duties was much interrupted, and eventually he was com- 
pelled to relinquish practice. Mr. Johnson was no indifferent spectator to the great po 
litical questions, the contest of which have ever divided wise and good men of the na 
tion. With the majority of the New Jersey bar, he belonged to the Washingtonian 
school, and exerted all his energies in what he honestly conceived his country's true in- 
terests. For several years previous to his decease, he resided in the family of his son- 
in-law, Richard D. Corson, M. D., of New Hope, Bucks co., Pa. 

Mr. Johnson possessed an enlarged acquaintance with the principal departments of 
literature and science ; but experimental philosophy and natural history had been his fa- 
vorite studies. He was a good anatomist and a superior chemist. He had a natural 
fondness for mechanical pursuits; and the productions of his skill would not have dis- 
graced the most experienced artists. While a youth, he made himself master of French, 
so as to read it with great fluency ; and in after years, his intimacy with several French 
gentlemen, who had settled in the vicinity of Princeton, enabled him so to perfect his 
pronunciation, that it could not be distinguished from that of a well-educated French- 
man, even by natives of that country. 

The subject of this notice was distinguished for a high sense of moral principle, and 
great kindness of heart. For his brethren of the New Jersey bar, he cherished a warm 
attachment, and they were forward in evincing their high esteem of his worth. A few 
years before his death, a number of them obtained the services of an artist, and had a 
full-length portrait of him taken, which is now placed over the judge's chair in the court- 
room at Flemington. Mr. Johnson entertained a profound regard for the Christian re- 
ligion. Fully convinced of its truth, he was not backward in expressing his sense of its 
importance. Seldom could the scoff of infidelity pass unrebuked in his presence. In 
his latter years, he greatly improved in biblical knowledge. He was much interested in 
the valuable works of L'Enfant and Beausobre, on the New Testament. He was accus- 
tomed to have it often read to him by an estimable granddaughter, who died a week be- 
fore him, and whose death probably hastened his own dissolution, which took place 
March 12th, 1838. 

There are near Flemington two valuable copper mines, the work- 
ing of which has been suspended on account of the pecuniary- 
pressure of the times. This village derives its name from a Mr. 
Fleming, who settled here previous to the American revolution. 
In 1760, a Baptist church was erected, and in 1791 the first court- 
house within the present limits of the county. Previously the 
courts were held at Trenton. This building, which was of stone, 
was destroyed by fire in February, 1828, and the present court- 
house built at an expense of about $14,000. In 1793, the Presby- 
terian church, a neat, substantial stone structure, was erected, and 
the Rev. Thomas Grant was the first settled clergyman. His suc- 
cessors have been the Rev. Mr. Field, Rev. John F. Clark, and the 
Rev. Joseph M. Olmstead, the present incumbent. The village at 
that time contained two churches, a store, and about a dozen dwell- 



HUNTERDON COUNTY. 253 

ings. In 1825, the Methodist, and in 1841 the Episcopal church, 
was erected. 

Annexed is an historical sketch of the Baptist church at Flem- 
ington, furnished by its present pastor, the Rev. Charles Bartolette. 

The beginning of any local interest of the Baptists in this place, as nearly as can 
now be ascertained, is as follows : — In the year 1765, Thomas Lowry and James Eddy 
gave a piece of land, about half an acre, for a Baptist meeting-house. This lot lies on 
the northeast corner of the main street, and the New Brunswick and Somerville roads. 
The house was built in 1766, under the direction of Thomas Lowry, James Eddy, 
Gershom Lee, Jonathan Higgins, John Jewell, Esq., and others. This was the first Bap- 
tist meeting-house in Amwell township, which at that time, together with the adjoin- 
ing township of Kingwood, was a part of Bethlehem ; and latterly, Amwell being divi- 
ded, now makes the house stand in Raritan. 

There being no regularly constituted church, it was called the Baptist meeting of Am- 
well, and chiefly supplied with preaching by the neighboring ministers. David Sutton, 
pastor of Kingwood, supplied them some time during the revolutionary war, but he, 
though a very pious minister, was by Mr. Jewell shut out of the house, because he was 
thought to be too favorable to the British. About this time tbe American soldiers used 
the house as barracks and hospital, the marks of their firearms being visible on the floor 
not twenty years ago. After this, Nicholas Cox, a minister of considerable talent, then 
at Kingwood, supplied a part of his time regularly, but in 1790, '91, declared himself a 
Universalist. This gave a general shock to their interests for some time, and they had 
very little preaching for four years. Then Mr. J. Ewing, pastor of Hopewell, supplied 
them ten months. In 1795, G. A. Hunt, pastor of Kingwood, engaged with them for 
one third of his time. At this period the house was almost in ruins. 

Their circumstances becoming more auspicious, the house was repaired, and in June, 
1798, there were fifteen persons constituted into a regular Baptist church, called the 
Baptist church of Amwell. They now elected their deacons, their clerk, and a board of 
trustees. In 1804, they called James McLaughlin as their minister, in conjunction with 
Kingwood. He left in 1809. In 1810, they called Dr. D. Sweeney, who only stayed 
six months. On the first of February, 1812, they called their present pastor, Charles 
Bartolette, and on the first of April ensuing, he brought his family from the county of 
Philadelphia to Flemington. The house was again repaired and painted. The number 
of communicants at this time, and for several years, was about 70 ; but after this they 
began to increase, and in 1817, built the meeting-house on Sandy Ridge, of stone, 30 feet 
by 40, two stories. In 1818, they set off 14 members, who were constituted into a regu- 
lar Baptist church. This was the second in Amwell. They have since set off several 
members, who now form the church at Weart's Corners, in Amwell. They have set off 
and assisted in forming several other churches in the adjoining neighborhoods. A course 
of prosperity attending them for several years, and their house being often repaired, it 
was found too small, and unfit to enlarge. In 1836, the present handsome edifice was 
built. The number of communicants for several years past ranges at about 300. 

In the progress of the village, three persons have been hung for 
murder. The first was in July, 1794. His name was James Va- 
nata, a white man, about 30 years of age. He lived in Alexan- 
dria, and having a dispute with a neighbor, with whom he had 
long been at enmity, shot and buried him in a forest. The next 
was Brom, a slave belonging to Mr. Philip Case, who in a quarrel 
with a fellow slave, killed him in his master's kitchen with a tram- 
mel. He was hung Nov. 11, 1803. Both of these executions took 
place in the upper part of Flemington, near the Redding mansion. 
The last execution was Nov. 28, 1828, in a field about 40 rods W. 
of the village, on the N. side of the road to Centre Bridge. It was 
that of James Bunn, a colored boy, aged about 14, who in Hope- 
well beat to death an old lady named Beaks, with an ox-yoke, be- 
cause she refused to lend him a gun. 



254 HUNTERDON COUNTY. 

Sometime in the war of the revolution a detachment of the 
American army encamped on Gray's hill, near the village, and 
Washington had his head-quarters at the residence of a Col. Stew- 
art, then a commissary. At the close of the year 1778, when the 
British were in Trenton, a detachment of 500 troops were drawn 
off, to march up through Ringoes to Flemington, for the purpose of 
plunder. They proceeded as far as Pennington, when, fearing dif- 
ficulty from some part of Washington's army, they halted, and 
sent forward as an advance-guard about 20 light-horsemen, under 
the command of cornet Geary, which proceeded to Flemington, 
where they destroyed a few firearms in a storehouse. This build- 
ing, now standing near the centre of the village, then belonged to 
Col. Thomas Lowry, but is now the property of Hugh Capner, 
Esq. Having placed upon it the king's seal, they returned the 
same day. 

This advance-guard had passed through Ringoes early in the 
morning. The few male inhabitants then at their homes, aroused 
by a militia captain named John Schenck, collected all the fire- 
arms they possessed, with the powder and ball, amounting only to 
a few rounds, and taking to the woods a little N. of the village, 
awaited the return of the enemy. As they were coming back, no 
doubt with the intention of giving information to the army that the 
way was clear, the Americans poured in a fire upon them, each 
man taking to a tree, or running from tree to tree, and their cap- 
tain shouting at the top of his voice, as though at the head of a 
large army. The cornet, who, its said, was of a noble family in 
England — " a brave fellow," to use the expression of those engaged 
against him — formed his men in the road and returned the fire. 
But a few shots were exchanged, when he fell from his horse mor- 
tally wounded. His men, panic-stricken, abruptly wheeled and re- 
treated back towards Flemington, their cornet's horse keeping com- 
pany. On passing a man named Housel, they forced him to pilot 
them across the country to the road leading to New Brunswick, 
and made speed back to the lines, without (as they were very hun- 
gry) performing any other feat than robbing some children they 
met, on their road to school, of their dinner. The detachment of 
500 awaiting their return at Pennington, soon hearing the report 
that the woods were full of rebels, hastened back to Trenton. Thus 
this well-timed ambuscade saved this part of the county from being 
overrun by the British troops. 

The cornet was buried in the edge of the woods near where he fell. The locality is 
marked only by a rough unlettered stone at the head, and one at the foot of his grave. 
The spot where this brave officer was shot, or in the language of many in the vicinity, 
" the place where the British reg'lar was killed," was long considered haunted ; there 
strange sights were seen, and dismal noises heard. About 30 years ago a gentleman re- 
siding about half a mile distant, one evening, sitting with his family, was alarmed at 
hearing hurried footsteps approaching, when suddenly a man burst into the house. 
The gentleman seeing he was much frightened, inquired — 

" Friend, what's the matter ?" 

" Oh !" replied the affrighted man, " I tried to go, but couldn't go. Oh ! there's such 
a noise down yonder where the reg'lar was killed ; the ground shakes and trembles so I 
can't go." 






HUNTERDON COUNTY. 255 

The gentleman, amused at his terror, agreed to accompany him to the place. As they 
approached the mystery was explained to him, by hearing a bull of his neighbor's mak- 
ing his usual low grum, boo-wno-woo ! ! 

" Hark !" exclaimed the affrighted man. 

" That," replied his companion, " is Mr. Q.'s bull." 

" That's no bull !" quickly rejoined the other in tones of terror. 

" Oh, yes it is," said the gentleman, " listen again." 

By this time they reached the little bridge marking the spot, when the latter said, 

" Now, if any thing attacks you so you can't go, you must hallo ; and if any thing 
interrupts me so I can't go, I will hallo." 

" You must holler quick!" exclaimed the other in a trembling voice, " for I shall go 
off very fast." And away he ran at full speed. 



READINGTON. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is 10 miles long, 5 
wide ; and is bounded N. by Tewksbury, E. by Bedminster and 
Bridgewater, Somerset co., S. by Raritan, and W. by Clinton and 
Tewksbury. The township contains 9 stores, 6 grist-m., 2 saw-m., 
and 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $2,825 ; 1 1 schools, 360 scholars. 
Pop. 2,373. Whitehouse, 11 miles NE. of Flemington, on the 
Rockaway creek, and the Easton and New Brunswick turnpike, 
contains 2 taverns, 2 stores, a grist-m., &c. ; an academy, a Re- 
formed Dutch church, and 1 1 dwellings. Mechanicsville, 1 mile 
E. of the above, on the turnpike, has a tavern, a store, a number 
of mechanic shops, and 15 dwellings. Readington contains a tav- 
ern, store, mill, 8 dwellings, and a Reformed Dutch church. Cen- 
treville, 7 miles NE. of Flemington, on the old York road, has a 
store, tavern, and a few dwellings. 



TEWKSBURY. 

This township, incorporated in 1798, is about 6 miles long, 5 
wide ; bounded N. by Washington, Morris co. ; E. by Bedminster, 
Somerset co. ; S. by Readington ; and W. by Clinton and Lebanon. 
The northern part is mountainous ; the southern fertile, and well 
cultivated. It is drained by Rockaway river and its tributaries, 
and Lamington river, which forms its eastern boundary. There 
are in the township 9 stores, 4 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. $7,450 ; 8 schools, 274 scholars. Pop. 1,944. 

New Germantown is in the SE. part of the township, on the 
road from Somerville to Schooley's mountain, 14 miles NE. from 
Flemington, and 45 from Trenton. The village is on a slight ac- 
clivity descending to the N. It is built on several streets, at right- 
angles to each other. The surrounding country is hilly, and very 
productive of wheat and corn. Much lime is burnt and used in 
the vicinity ; and agriculture has, in consequence, much improved 
within the last 15 years. It contains 4 stores, a tannery, 1 
wheelwright, 1 cabinet-maker, 2 blacksmiths, 2 saddlers, 3 shoe- 
makers, 1 cooper, 2 tailors, an academy, a Methodist and a Luther- 
an church, and 55 dwellings. 



256 



MERCER COUNTY. 



The annexed view was taken from Hyler's hill, a small eminence 
about | of a mile N. of the village. On the right is seen the acad- 
emy, the building with a spire. The large structure near tne cen- 




North View of New Germantown. 

tre of the engraving is the Evangelical Lutheran church, which is 
built of stone, and plastered. It was first erected in 1750, and re- 
built in 1830. The Methodist church, a neat edifice, situated in the 
central part of the village, was erected about 18 years since. Pot- 
tersville, on Lamington river, in this township, near the angle of 
Hunterdon, Morris, and Somerset counties, contains a store, a foun- 
dry, a grist and fulling m., and 8 or 10 dwellings. There is an ex- 
tensive quarry of pudding-stone marble, near New Germantown, 
which admits of a splendid polish ; but the proprietors, instead of 
using it to " grace the column or capital," burn it into lime, and 
thereby polish and enrich their fields. 



MERCER COUNTY. 

Mercer county was formed from Hunterdon, Burlington, and 
Middlesex counties, Feb. 1838, and named in honor of Gen. Mer- 
cer, who fell at the battle of Princeton. It is about 20 miles long 
with an average width of 12 miles, bounded NW. by Hunterdon 
co., NE. by Somerset and Middlesex counties, SE. by Monmouth 
and Burlington counties, and SW. by Delaware river, dividing it from 
Pennsylvania. It is watered by Stony Brook, a branch of the Rari- 
tan, the Assunpink creek, with its branches and other smaller 
streams emptying into the Delaware. The country south of Tren- 
ton and Princeton is level, of an alluvial formation, soil light, but 



MERCER COUNTY. 



257 



productive. Above these places the surface is undulating, more 
hilly as it approaches the north ; mountainous on and near the 
northern line. This portion is composed of a variety of soil, well 
adapted to both winter and summer grains. Within the limits of 
this county are located the capital of the state and her most im- 
portant literary institutions. Here too were fought the battles of 
Trenton and Princeton, memorable for turning the tide of the 
4merican revolution. The county is divided into the 9 following 
townships, all of which, except Ewing, Hamilton, and Princeton, 
were incorporated in 1798. 

East Windsor, Hopewell, Lawrence Princeton, Trenton, 
Ewing, Hamilton, Nottingham, West Windsor. 

The population of the county in 1840, was 21,075. 



EAST WINDSOR. 

East Windsor has an average length of about 10, and width of 5 
miles. It is bounded NW. by West Windsor ; NE. by South Bruns- 
wick and Monroe, Middlesex co. ; SSE. by Upper Freehold, Mon- 
mouth co., and SW. by Hamilton. The surface is level and the soil 
light. The township contains 3 grist-m., 2 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. $15,965; 6 schools„167 scholars. Pop. 1,989. 




Central View in Hightstown. 

The village of Hightstown is 14 miles E. of Trenton, on the 
line of the Camden and Amboy railroad. The above view was 
taken in the principal street of the place. The public building on 
the right is the Baptist church. Further down the street the rail- 
road crosses Rocky Brook, in tressel work. Since the construction 
of this road, the village has more than doubled in population, and 
is now in a thriving condition. It contains 6 stores, a grist and saw 
mill, a variety of mechanics, 1 Methodist, 1 Universalist, and 1 Bap- 

33 



258 MERCER COUNTY. 

tist church, an academy, from 80 to 100 dwellings, and a popula- 
tion of about 500. 

The Baptist church is the oldest in the village. It formerly be- 
longed to Cranbury, where it was constituted in 1745, with 17 
members. In 1785 the society built a church in Hightstown. 

" The first pastor," says Benedict, in his history of the Baptists, " was James Car- 
man, who was remarkable for living by faith. He was born at Cape May in 1677, was 
baptized at Staten Island, near New York, by Elias Keach, in the 15th year of his age ; 
after this, went first among the Quakers, then with the New Light Presbyterians, whom 
he permitted to baptize one of his children. But in process of time he came back to his 
first principles, united with the church in Middletown, began to preach in the branch of 
it at Cranbury, and was ordained its pastor at the time it was constituted. Here he died 
at the age of 79. For many years after his death this church had only occasional sup- 
plies, and had nearly become extinct when Mr. Peter Wilson came amongst them in 
1782. In nine years from his settlement over 200 persons were added to the church by 
baptism ; upwards of 800 have been baptized by this successful pastor, during the whole 
of his ministry here. The church is scattered over a wide extent of territory, and Mr. 
Wilson, in his more active days, not unfrequently rode 15, and sometimes 20 miles, and 
preached four times on a Lord's day. From this church originated the one at Trenton." 
The Rev. Mr. Mulford is its present pastor. 



EWING. 

Ewing was formed from Trenton in 1834, and comprehends 
about all of what then constituted that township, excepting the 
city. It was named in honor of Charles Ewing, LL. D., chief-jus- 
tice of New Jersey, who died in 1832. It is about 5 miles long, 
with a width of from 2 to 4 miles. It is bounded N. by Hopewell, 
E. by Lawrence, S. by Trenton, and westerly by Delaware river. 
The surface is generally level or undulating, and the soil very fa- 
vorable for the production of oats. There are in the township 1 
fulling-m., 1 woollen factory, 1 grist-m., 2 saw-m. ; capital employed 
inmanufac. f 14,500 ; 3 schools, 77 scholars. Pop. 1,017. 

This township was settled about the year 1700, by emigrants 
from Long Island, from East Jersey, and elsewhere. The following 
is a list of part of the settlers : 

Daniel Howell, Charles Clark, Jacob Reeder, 

John Davis, Ebenezer Prout, Richard Scudder 

William Reed, Abiel Davis, Isaac Reeder, 

Robert Lanning, Simon Sacket, Jonathan Davis, 

John Burroughs, John Lanning, John Deane. 



HAMILTON. 

Hamilton was originally a part of Nottingham, but in 1842 the 
latter township was divided, and only the tract between Delaware 
river and the Delaware and Raritan canal retained the original 
name ; the remainder, being the greater part of its territory, was 
incorporated into a township by the name of Hamilton. Its ex- 
treme length is about 8, and its average width is about 5 miles ; 



MERCER COUNTY. 059 

bounded NW. by Lawrence and Trenton, easterly by East and 
West Windsor, 8. by Chesterfield, Burlington co., and westerly by 
Nottingham. The surface is level, and the soil, though light, can be 
made productive by the use of marl, which is found in abundance 
within its limits. The township is watered by streams which in their 
course through the light soil have worn deep gulleys. The popula- 
tion is estimated to be about 2,500. The New Jersey railroad 
oasses along near the western boundary of Hamilton, and the 
Camden and Amboy railroad passes the southern part. 

This township was originally settled by Friends. The house in 

vhich Mr. Benjamin Vanscoick now resides, about half a mile 

rom the State's Prison, was built in 1708 by Isaac Watson, an emi- 

rant from Nottingham, England, from which the old township of 

Nottingham derived its name. 



HOPEWELL. 

What time this township received its name, is not precisely known. 
As early as 1699, the tract known as the township of Hopewell, 
was bounded by the Assunpink on the S., by the line of East and 
West Jersey on the E., and by its present boundary on the N. 
These limits have been greatly reduced. The township is now 
about 10 m. long, and 6 broad. It is bounded N. by Am well, Hun- 
terdon co., S. by Ewing and Lawrence, E. by Montgomery and 
Princeton, W. by the Delaware river. The surface of the northern 
part is hilly; the south, level and fertile. Pop. 3,213. It is be- 
lieved that most of the first settlers were English families, who 
removed from Long Island about the year 1700, or, perhaps, a few 
years previous. The first settlers were the Stouts,* Goldens, Hough- 

* The family of the Stouts are so remarkable for their number, origin, and character, 
in both church and state, that their history deserves to be conspicuously recorded ; and 
no place can be so proper as that of Hopewell, where the bulk of the family resides. We 
have already seen that Jonathan Stout and family were the seed of the Hopewell church, 
and the beginning of Hopewell settlement ; and that of the 15 which constituted the 
church, nine were Stouts. The church was constituted at the house of a Stout, and the 
meetings were held chiefly at the dwellings of the Stouts for 41 years, viz. from the be- 
ginning of the settlement to the building of the meeting-house, before described. Mr. 
Hart was of opinion (in 1790) " that from first to last, half the members have been and 
were of that name : for, in looking over the church book, (saith he,) I find that near 200 
of the name have been added ; besides about as many more of the blood of the Stouts, 
who had lost the name by marriages. The present (1790) two deacons and four elders, 
are Stouts ; the late Zebulon and David Stout were two of its main pillars ; the last lived 
to see his offspring multiplied into an 117 souls." The origin of this Baptist family is 
no less remarkable : for they all sprang from one woman, and she as good as dead ; her 
history is in the mouths of most of her posterity, and is told as follows : " She was born 
at Amsterdam, about the year 1602; her father's name was Vanprincis ; she and her 
first husband, (whose name is not known,) sailed for New York, (then New Amsterdam,) 
about the year 1620 ; the vessel was stranded at Sandy Hook ; the crew got ashore, and 
marched towards the said New York ; but Penelope's (for that was her name) husband 
being hurt in the wreck, could not march with them ; therefore, he and the wife tarried 
in the woods ; they had not been long in the place, before the Indians killed them both, 
(as they thought) and stripped them to the skin ; however, Penelope came to, though her 



260 



MERCER COUNTY. 



tons, and Merrils, in the northern part, and the Burroughs, Harts, 
Hunts, Mershons, Drakes, Baldwins, Tituses, Phillipses, Moores, 
Brooks, Smiths, Stephensons, Bakers, Temples, Bollens, Hoffs, Well- 
ings, and Cains, in the southern and middle parts of the township. 
Jonathan, the ancestor of the Stouts, came here from Middletown in 
this state, in the year 1706; his family was one of the first three 
which settled on the tract now called Hopewell. The place, then, 
was a wilderness, and full of Indians. 




fill i aiisnais 




Pennington Male Seminary. 

The village of Pennington is 8 m. N. of Trenton, on the great 
road to Flemington, and the NW. part of the state. The village 
contains 2 churches, 1 Methodist and 1 Presbyterian, 2 seminaries, 
1 male and 1 female, and about 60 dwellings. The Pennington 
male seminary, represented in the engraving, is built of brick, 88 
feet long and 44 wide. It was erected by the stock subscriptions 
of persons principally residing in the village and its vicinity, at an 
expense of about $15,000. It was opened for the reception of stu- 
dents in 1840, and is under the patronage of the New Jersey an- 
nual conference of the M. E. church. It has a choice library, a 



skull was fractured, and her left shoulder so hacked, that she could never use that arm 
like the other ; she was also cut across the abdomen, so that her bowels appeared ; these 
she kept in with her hand ; she continued in this situation for seven days, taking shelter 
in a hollow tree, and eating the excrescence of it ; the seventh day sbe saw a deer pass- 
ing by with arrows sticking in it, and soon after two Indians appeared, whom she was 
glad to see, in hope they would put her out of her misery ; accordingly, one made to- 
wards her to knock her on the head ; but the other, who was an elderly man, prevented 
him ; and, throwing his matchcoat about her, carried her to his wigwam, and cured her 
of her wounds and bruises ; after that he took her to New York, and made a present of 
her to her countrymen, viz. an Indian present, expecting ten times the value in return. 
It was in New York, that one Richard Stout married her : he was a native of England, 
and of a good family ; she was now in her 22d year, and he in his 40th. She bore him 
seven sons and three daughters, viz : Jonathan, (founder of Hopewell,) John, Richard, 
James, Peter, David, Benjamin, Mary, Sarah, and Alice ; the daughters married into the 
families of the Bounds, Pikes, Throckmortons, and Skeltons, and so lost the name of 
Stout ; the sons married into the families of Bullen, Crawford, Ashton, Traux, &c, and 
had many children. The mother lived to the age of 110, and saw her offspring multi- 
plied into 502, in about ti8 years." — Benedict's Hist. Baptists. 



MERCER COUNTY. 261 

cabinet of minerals, and philosophical and chemical apparatus. 
The Pennington female seminary is built of brick, 4 stories high, 
and has been established for several years. There is also an acad- 
emy for the accommodation of the children of the village, which 
has a fund of upwards of $4,000, under the direction of trustees, 
being the devise of Miss Abigail Moore, the interest of which is, 
by her will, directed to be appropriated to pay the bills of tuition 
of poor children who attend the academy. 

There are 5 post-offices in this town, one in each of the follow- 
ing places, viz : Pennington, Woodsville, Columbia, Bernardsville, 
and Titusville. Woodsville lies near the north line of the town, 
13 m. N. of Trenton; contains a store, tavern, and about 8 or 10 
dwellings, on a slope of rising ground from which there is a fine 
prospect of the surrounding country. Columbia, 17 m. N. from 
Trenton, contains a Baptist church and about a dozen dwellings. 
The ground on which this church stands, was the donation of John 
Hart, Esq., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 
Bernardsville, formerly called 8 Mile Ferry, is situated on the Dela- 
ware ; has a tavern, store, and a canal basin, attached to the feed- 
er of the Delaware and Raritan canal. There is a lattice-bridge, 
opposite to this place, connecting it with Taylorsville. This is the 
spot at which Washington crossed the Delaware previous to his 
capture of the Hessians at Trenton. Titusville, 2 miles above 
Bernardsville, contains a Presbyterian church, 8 or 10 dwellings, 
and a number of mechanic shops. 

The Presbyterian church of Hopewell (now Pennington) was organized by the first 
settlers. The first authentic notice of its existence is found on the records of the Pres- 
bytery of Philadelphia, in 1709, with which presbytery it was connected till 1757, when 
it was transferred to that of New Brunswick. The first pastor was Rev. Robert Orr, 
who was installed in 1715 ; the second pastor, Rev. Joseph Morgan, who was originally 
from Great Britain, and settled about 1730; his successor was Rev. John Guild, from 
Massachusetts, who took the pastoral charge in 1738, and continued till his death in 
1785, a period of 47 years. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Rue, from Freehold, 
Monmouth co., a pupil of Rev. Wm. Tennent ; he died in 1826, having been pastor 41 
years. His successor, Rev. Benjamin Ogden, was installed in 1826, and continued pas- 
tor 12 years, when he removed to Michigan ; he was succeeded by Rev. George Hale, in 
Feb. 1842. The first house of worship, for this society, was a frame building ; the sec- 
ond, now standing, is of brick ; it was erected in 1766. 

The first Baptist church of Hopewell, in Columbia village, was organized in 1715, nine 
years after Mr. Stout and his associates removed into Hopewell; Mr. Stout's family 
furnishing 8 of the 15 members who constituted the church at that time. The first 
pastor settled over the church, was Rev. Isaac Eaton, who was ordained in Nov. 1748. 
Mr. Eaton died in 1772 ; previous to his ordination the church had no permanent min- 
ister. The present pastor is the Rev. John Boggs, who has had charge of the congrega- 
tion 35 years. Harbourton, or the Second Baptist church in Hopewell, was constituted 
in 1803 ; the first pastor was Rev. James McLaughlin, the present is Rev. Christopher 
Suydam. 

The first person of the Methodist denomination who preached in Hopewell, is supposed 
to have been Capt. Webb, a British officer from New York, who visited this place about 
the year 1768. The first regular class was formed by Joseph Pillmore, who was sent to 
this country in 1769. This place was also visited by John King, Francis Asbury, (af- 
terwards Bishop,) William Waters of Virginia, Freeborn Garretson, and other devoted 
preachers, and the society rapidly increased in numbers. It continued in connection with 
the Trenton circuit till 1832, when they were made a separate charge, called " Penning- 
ton Station." The society now has two houses of worship, one in Pennington and 



262 MERCER COUNTY. 

one 4 four miles distant, towards the Delaware, called the " River Church." Ahout a 
mile from Pennington village, on the road leading to the Delaware, formerly stood what 
was usually called the " New Light Church" erected in 1741, by persons who seceded 
from the Presbyterian church, during the period of the great revival under the labors of 
the celebrated Whitefield, Tennents, and others. The last preacher of this church was 
Rev. James Davenport, a preacher of some celebrity on Long Island and in Connecti- 
cut. Mr. D. died in this place in 1757, aged 40 years ; after his death, the congregation 
generally formed a sort of union with the old church, and their house of worship finally 
fell into the hands of the Methodists. 

John Hart, Esq., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a native of Hope- 
well ; he was a deputy from Hunterdon co., in the Provincial Congress of 1775, and a 
member of the Committe of Safety, and in 1776, was a member of the Continental Con- 
gress. Soon after the Declaration of Independence, New Jersey became the theatre of 
war. The progress of the British troops was marked by rapine and wanton destruction 
of property. The children of Mr. Hart escaped from insult by retiring from the neigh- 
borhood of the troops, leaving the farm and stock to be pillaged and destroyed by the 
Hessians. Mrs. Hart, at this time, was afflicted with a disorder which prevented her re- 
moval, and which terminated in her death. Mr. Hart was driven from the bedside of 
his dying partner, and hunted through the woods and among the hills. " While Washing- 
ton's army was dwindling down to a mere handful, this old man was carrying his gray 
hairs and infirmities about from cottage to cottage, and from cave to cave, while his 
farm was pillaged, his property plundered, his family afflicted and dispersed ; he was, 
through sorrow, humiliation, and suffering, wearing out his bodily strength, and hasten- 
ing the approach of decrepitude and death. Yet he never despaired, never repented the 
course he had taken." At one time being sorely pressed for a safe night's lodging, 
and being unknown, he was obliged to share the accommodations of a dog. Mr. Hart 
died in 1780, leaving a bright example of patriotism and devotion to his country. His 
residence was the one occupied now by William Phillips, Esq., near the village of 
Columbia. 

Col. Joab Houghton, an active partisan officer of the Revolution, was a native of 
this township; he lived in the NE. part, in the house now occupied by Mr. W r m. Suy- 
dam, and died in that occupied by Mr. Joseph Swain. While this part of New Jersey 
was overrun by the British and Hessians, there were but few hardy enough to oppose 
even the small marauding parties that were daily plundering for the British camp. 
Nearly the whole of the active population had left their homes, some with the army under 
Washington, and some to a place of safety. Pennington was occupied by the British 
troops, and the inhabitants who remained, being aged, were peaceable, and lay at the mercy 
of these plunderers. Col. Houghton being at that time at home, word was brought to 
him by night, that the neighborhood of Moore's Mill had been visited by the enemy, and 
that they would probably be out the next day. Early next morning, Col. H. collected a 
few of his neighbors, and placed himself on the point of a neighboring mountain which 
overlooked the surrounding country ; — presently he saw the party, who entered a house 
near by where Col. H. and his men were stationed, after stacking their guns on the out- 
side. The Colonel and his men now rushed from their hiding-place, seized first the 
arms and then their owners — a Hessian sergeant, and twelve men, whom they found re- 
galing themselves in the cellar with Metheglin. Col. H. remained in the field during 
the war, after which he was a member of the Legislature from Hunterdon co. He was 
a member of the first Baptist church, and died at an advanced age about the year 1795. 

Wilson P. Hunt, Esq., the hero of Irving's Astoria, was born in this township. He 
was born in the house now standing on the property of Benjamin S. Hill, and served his 
time in the store of his uncle, Abraham Hunt of Trenton. His adventurous and enter- 
prising spirit brought him to the notice of John Jacob Astor of New York, who planned 
an enterprise across the Rocky mountains. The command of this expedition was in- 
trusted to Mr. Hunt, who with his party reached the Pacific after much toil, suffering, 
and perseverance. This was the first commercial enterprise that ever reached the 
Pacific across the Rocky mountains. Mr. H. on his return, settled at St. Louis, and 
died in 1842. 



LAWRENCE. 

Lawrence was originally incorporated under the name of Maid- 
enhead, in 1798. Its extreme length is 9 miles; greatest width 5 



MERCER COUNTY. 263 

miles. It is bounded NW. by Hopewell, NE. by Princeton and 
West Windsor ; S. by Hamilton, and W. by Trenton and Ewing. 
The Delaware and Raritan canal passes through the southern part 
of Lawrence. It has 3 grist-m. and 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$14,600; 2 schools, 92 scholars. Pop. 1,556. 

This township was settled probably not far from the year 1700. 
When the colonial assembly erected the county of Hunterdon, 
they enacted that the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Ses- 
sions should alternately be held in Maidenhead and Hopewell, 
" until a courthouse and jail should be built ;" and it so happened 
that the first courts of the county were held in Maidenhead, on the 
second Tuesday of June, 1714. The magistrates present were 
John Banbridge, Jacob Bellerjeau, Philip Phillips, William Green, 
John Holcomb, Samuel Green, and Samuel Fitch. The first-named 
gentleman was buried at Lamberton, in 1732, where his grave- 
stone now is. He was a prominent and useful public officer, and 
is supposed to have been the ancestor of the late gallant Commo- 
dore Bainbridge. 

Lawrenceville, anciently called Maidenhead, is 5£ miles NE. 
of Trenton, and about the same distance from Princeton, on a road 
connecting these two places. It is a small post-village, containing 
a few houses, and a Presbyterian church, built in 1762. There are 
also two literary institutions in excellent repute, and favorably 
located for health and study. The " Lawrenceville Classical and 
Commercial High School," under the charge of H. and S. M. 
Hamill, is designed for preparing young men for professional 
life. Among the pupils who here have been prepared for college, 
was the late Rev. James Brainard Taylor. The " Lawrenceville 
Female Seminary," under the direction of Miss Caroline S. Craig, 
is highly recommended by the faculty of Princeton College, as a 
place of education for young ladies. 

When the British had possession of Princeton and Trenton, this village was the com- 
mon thoroughfare between those places. On the morning of the battle of Princeton, the 
enemy passed through it. Previous to this action, the village and adjacent country were 
deserted by their inhabitants, most of the active men being with Washington in Pennsyl- 
vania. Among these, was Mr. Elias Phillips, who wishing to know the condition of his 
native village, returned with two companions to make it a nocturnal visit. Finding it 
desolate and plundered by the enemy of every thing that could be carried off, and know- 
ing of the constant passing of the British between the places, they determined to make 
reprisals of the first party that should pass. For this purpose, they secreted themselves 
in a deserted shop. About break of day, as a baggage-wagon, guarded by three sol- 
diers, was passing, the little party rushed out and made them prisoners. They were 
taken to the American camp. Washington accepted the prisoners, but the wagon, and 
stores therein, he directed Phillips to retain for his own benefit. Mr. Phillips was in the 
field during the whole war. Afterward, he was elected high-sheriff of Hunterdon co., 
and died while holding that office, lamented by all who knew him. 

When the British troops were passing through Lawrenceville, after Washington's re- 
treat through the Jerseys, a party of Hessians entered the dwelling of Jacob Keen, who 
was a strong whig. His wife, a woman of great courage and resolution, had locked up 
her silver in a bureau. Upon their entering, she dispatched one of her children in 
search of an officer. She stood before her bureau, with the keys in her hand. They de- 
manded, in their own language, that she should open the drawers. She pretended not to un- 
derstand their object ; and tkey, much enraged, were in the act of breaking the drawers 



264 MERCER COUNTY. 

with the butts of their muskets, when an officer entered with the child, and the men re- 
treated. The above anecdote is derived from a lady now living in Trenton, a daughter 
of Mrs. K., at that time a child 6 years of age ; and who, on this occasion, was secreted 
in an oven. 



NOTTINGHAM. 

Nottingham originally included Hamilton, from which it was 
separated in 1842. It is a narrow strip of land, about 6 miles long, 
between the Delaware and Raritan canal and the Delaware river. 
On the N. it is less than half a mile wide ; and in the lower part 
of it only a few rods. Its population is about 2,200. In 1842 its 
northern part, comprising the villages of Mill Hill, Bloomsbury, and 
Lamberton, were formed into a borough called " the borough of 
South Trenton," which is separated from the city of Trenton by the 
Assunpink creek, and is properly but a continuation of the city. 
Within the limits of the borough are 4 churches, the county offi- 
ces and courthouse, the state prison and arsenal ; and the bridge 
across the Delaware connects the borough with Morrisville, Pa. 

Lamberton, the southernmost village, contains about 70 dwell- 
ings. It took its name from Mr. Thomas Lambert, who settled 
there about the year 1G79. Mill Hill contains about 80 dwellings ; 
and Bloomsbury 150. Both of these villages are separated from 
Trenton by the Assunpink. The first lies a short distance back 
from the Delaware ; the last upon it. As these different villages 
(or localities, rather) may be in a certain sense considered as a 
part of the city of Trenton, they will be described under that head. 
[See Trenton.] The township of Nottingham in 1840, contained 
28 stores, 3 furnaces, 3 fulling-m., 3 woollen fac, 7 cotton fac. 
C,500 spindles, 5 tanneries, 10 grist-m., 7 saw-m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $596,770 ; 1 academy, 36 students, 13 schools, 348 schol- 
ars. Pop. 5,109. 



PRINCETON. 

The township of Princeton was recently formed from the town- 
ships of Montgomery and West Windsor. The village of Princeton 
was incorporated as a borough in 1812, and was then situated partly 
in Somerset and partly in Middlesex cos. The township is about 
5 miles long, and 3 broad ; bounded N. by Montgomery, Somerset 
co. ; S. by West Windsor ; E. by Franklin, Somerset co., and South 
Brunswick, Middlesex co. ; and W. by Hopewell and Lawrence. 
Pop. 3,055. The village of Princeton is situated on an elevated 
ridge of land, which rises with a long and easy ascent, and com- 
mands, to the east, a prospect of great extent. Besides the collegi- 
ate buildings, there are in the village about 200 dwellings, 1 Pres- 
byterian and 1 Episcopal church, also one or two houses of wor- 
ship for colored persons, a bank, printing-office, &c. The population 
of the village is about 2,000. Distant 40 miles from Philadelphia, 



MERCER COUNTY. 265 

50 from New York, 18 from Somerville, 25. from Freehold, 16 from 
New Brunswick, and 10 from Trenton. The Delaware and Rari- 
tan canal, and the railroad from New York to Philadelphia, pass 
about a mile SE. of the college buildings. 



The "College of New Jersey" was first incorporated in 1746; 
and has ever maintained its rank among the first literary institu- 
tions of this country. It owes its origin to a difference of religious 
views in the Presbyterian Ui\ es, which took place at the period 
of Mr. Whitefield's labors "'this country. In 1741 the Synod of 
Philadelphia, which represented the whole Presbyterian church, 
was divided into two bodies — the Synod of Philadelphia, and that 
of New York. The mass of the Synod of Philadelphia lay to the 
W., and that of the Synod of New York to the E. of the Delaware 
river. The clergy of the Synod of New York were, to a man, the 
warm friends and coadjutors of Mr. Whitefield ; but those of Phila- 
delphia were generally his decided opponents. The Synod of New 
York reproached that of Philadelphia with introducing men to the 
gospel ministry without due regard to personal piety ; and that of 
Philadelphia recriminated, by charging that of New York with fa- 
voring enthusiasm, and with licensing men to preach the gospel 
without adequate literary attainments. 

This last charge was believed by many, at that time, to have its 
foundation in truth ; and they accordingly took measures to remove 
the evil. The Rev. Jonathan Dickinson, of Elizabethtown, a lead- 
ing member of the Synod of New York, " gave being and shape 
to the deliberations that resulted in the creation of the College of 
New Jersey." He had been for several years a very successful and 
popular teacher of young men ; and when the institution was re- 
solved upon, every eye turned to him as the best qualified to lay its 
foundations, and to superintend its concerns. A charter for the 
college was sought and granted by John Hamilton, who acted as 
governor, (being the oldest member of the council,) between the 
death of Gov. Morris, in May, 1746, and the induction of Gov. 
Belcher, in 1747. The college thus founded was commenced in 
Elizabethtown, and Mr. Dickinson chosen its first president. He, 
with an usher, were the only teachers. The number of students 
was about 20, who boarded with the president, and with other 
families in the town. An old academy, which stood where the 
lecture-room of the First Presbyterian church in that town now 
stands, and which was burnt in the revolutionary war, contained 
the first recitation-room of the first classes ever attached to the 
New Jersey college. President Dickinson died October 7th, 1747. 
The students were then removed to Newark, and placed under the 
care of Rev. Aaron Burr, who was elected to succeed him. In 
1757, the institution, then numbering about 70 scholars, was re- 
moved to Princeton, where the first college edifice was reared. 

The principal edifice of the College of New Jersey is called 
Nassau Hall, and was erected in 1757. It is 176 feet long, 50 

34 



266 MERCER COUNTY. 

wide, and 4 stories high. Gov. Belcher was much interested in the 
college, and made a " generous donation of his library of books, 
with other valuable ornaments" to it. In consideration of this, 
the trustees voted him an address of thanks, with a request that 
they might be allowed to name the collegiate building then erect- 
ing. This honor his excellency declined ; and requested they 
would name it Nassau Hall, to "express the honor we retain," 
(says the governor,) " in this remote part of the globe, to the im- 
mortal memory of the glorious king William the Third ; who was 
a branch of the illustrious house of Nassau ; and who, under God, 
was the great deliverer of the British nation from those two mon- 
strous furies, Popery and Slavery," &c. The trustees, after the re- 
ceipt of the governor's letter, resolved, "that in all time to come," 
it should be called by the name of Nassau Hall. At this early pe- 
riod, the discipline in the collegiate institutions of the country was 
materially different from that of the present day. Many customs, 
now considered absurd, were judged wholesome restraints, and as 
enforcing salutary habits of obedience on the part of the pupil to 
his superiors in rank. The annexed extract, from the Collegiate 
Code of Princeton College in 1765, is an illustration in point: 

Every scholar shall keep his hat off about ten rods to the president, and about five to 
the tutors. Every scholar shall rise up and make his obeisance when the president goes 
in or out of the hall, or enters the pulpit on days of religious worship. When walking 
with a superior, they shall give him the highest place ; and when first coming into his 
company, they shall show their respects to him by pulling off their hats ; shall give place 
to him at any door or entrance, or meeting him going up and down stairs, shall stop, giv- 
ing him the banister side ; shall not enter into his room without knocking at the door, or 
in any way intrude themselves upon him ; and shall never be first or foremost in any un- 
dertaking in which a superior is engaging, or about to engage ; shall never use any inde- 
cent or rude behavior or action in a superior's presence, such as making a noise, calling 
loud, or speaking at a distance, unless spoken to by him, if within hearing ; shall always 
give a direct pertinent answer, concluding with Sir ! 

Nassau Hall was occupied as barracks by the British troops pre- 
vious to the battle of Princeton. The basement story they used 
for stables. Gov. Belcher's library, which he gave to the college, 
consisted of 474 volumes. Many of these books were highly valu- 
able ; but such of them as remained after the purloining by the 
British and American armies, when they successively occupied the 
edifice, were nearly all consumed by fire on the 6th of March, 1802, 
which left nothing but the stone walls of the edifice standing. On 
its being rebuilt, the walls, which were not materially injured by 
the fire, remained as before, and the whole interior of the house, 
except the chapel, was converted into lodging-rooms — the library, 
refectory, and other public apartments being provided for in addi- 
tional buildings. At the time of the battle of Princeton, the room 
in Nassau Hall called the chapel, was adorned with a portrait of 
George II. ; the Americans, in dislodging the British troops from the 
building, fired a cannon-shot which passed through the walls, and 
destroyed this picture. The frame, however, still remained sus- 
pended on the walls of the chapel, within which is now a portrait 
of "Washington, painted by the elder Peale. It is stated that Wash- 



MERCER COUNTY. 267 

ington, in order to make good to the college the damage sustained 
by the fire of his troops, made the trustees a present of 50 guineas, 
which they expended in procuring the portrait of the general. 
Among other relics of antiquity belonging to the institution, there 
is in the Philosophic Hall the identical electrical machine used by 
Dr. Franklin, and the orrery constructed by Rittenhouse. 

The whole course of instruction at the College of New Jersey 
requires four years, — namely, one year in each of the four classes 
into which the students are divided. The college year is divided 
into two terms or sessions. The annual commencement is on the 
last Wednesday of September ; and the winter session begins six 
weeks from that time, and closes on the first Thursday after the 
second Tuesday in April. The summer session begins five weeks 
after the close of the winter session, and ends on the last Wednes- 
day of September. The college library contains 8,000 volumes ; 
in the libraries of the two literary societies connected with the col- 
lege are about 4,000 volumes, making 12,000 in all. The college 
possesses a valuable set of philosophical, astronomical, and chemical 
apparatus, a mineralogical cabinet, a museum of natural history, 
and a large collection of drawings for the illustration of lectures 
on architecture and astronomy. 

The Theological Seminai-y, in the village of Princeton, is a highly 
respectable institution. It was founded by the General Assembly 
of the Presbyterian church of the United States, and is under its 
control and patronage. The plan of the institution was formed in 
1811, and the edifice for the use of the seminary was commenced 
in 1813, and made habitable in 1817. It is of stone, 150 feet long, 
50 wide, and four stories high. " This institution is conducted on 
very liberal principles ; for, although supported by the Presbyterian 
church, and primarily intended to promote the training of a pious 
and learned ministry for that church, students of all Christian de- 
nominations are admitted into a full participation of its benefits, 
on equal terms. It is wholly unconnected with the college, but 
enjoys by contract the free use of the college library." The course 
of study is extended through three years. There is but one vaca- 
tion in the year, which commences the third Thursday in May, and 
continues 14 weeks. The number of students in 1842 was 120. 



BATTLE OF PRINCETON. 
The situation of the American army after the action at Assun- 
pink or Trenton bridge, was extremely critical. If Washington 
maintained his position on the south side of the Assunpink, it was cer- 
tain that he would be attacked by a superior force, with the proba- 
ble result of the destruction of his little army. Fires having been 
lighted, immediately after dark a council of war was convened. 
Washington, by the advice of Gen. St. Clair, Col. Reed, and others, 
" formed the bold and judicious design of abandoning the Delaware 
and marching silently in the night, by a circuitous route, along the 
left flank of the British army, into their rear at Princeton, where he 



270 



MERCER COUNTY. 



knew they could not be very strong. After beating them there, he 
proposed to make a rapid movement to Brunswick, where their 
baggage and principal magazines lay under a weak guard." 

Plan of the battle of Princeton, fought January 3d, 1777. 




[ References. A., Bridge on the old Trenton road. B., Friends meeting-house. 
C, T. Clark's house, in which Gen. Mercer died. D., The place where Gen. Mercer 
was mortally wounded. E., Head of column when first seen by the British. F., Head of 
column after Mercer's engagement. 1, 2, The British 17th Reg. 3, 4, Mercer's detach- 
ment, commencing the action. 9, 10, The 17th Reg., formed to dislodge Moulder. 11, 
12, The Pennsylvania militia under Washington. 13, Hitchcock's regiment. 5, 6, Pur- 
suit of the Americans. 7, 8, Retreat of the British.] 

The more effectually to mask the movement, (says Gen. Wilkin- 
son, in his memoirs.) Washington ordered the guards to be doubled, 
a strong fatigue party to be set at work on an intrenchment across 
the road near the mill, within distinct hearing of the enemy, the 
baggage to be sent to Burlington, the troops to be silently filed off 
by detachments, and the neighboring fences to be used as fuel by 
the guards to keep up blazing fires until towards day, when they 
had orders to retire. The night, though cloudless, was dark, and, 
though calm, exceedingly cold, and the movement was so cautious- 
ly conducted as to elude the vigilance of the enemy. Taking the 
lower road by Sandtown, across the Quaker bridge, the Americans 
reached Stony creek, which having crossed, they came to a small 



MERCER COUNTY. 271 

wood south of the Friends meeting-house, in the vicinity of Prince- 
ton, a little before sunrise. Here the main column wheeled to the 
right, and turning the SE. corner of the wood, marched directly 
for Princeton. Gen. Mercer, having under him captains Stone, 
Fleming, Neal, and others, with about 350 men, was detached to 
take possession of the bridge on the old Trenton road, for the double 
purpose of intercepting fugitives from Princeton, and to cover the 
rear of the army against Lord Conwallis from Trenton. 

The morning was bright, serene, and extremely cold, with a hoar 
frost, which bespangled every object. A brigade of the enemy 
under Lieut. Col. Mawhood, consisting of the 17th, 40th, and 55th 
regiments, with three troops of dragoons, had quartered in Prince- 
ton the preceding night. The 17th regiment, on their march to 
join Lord Cornwallis at Trenton, had passed the bridge over Stony 
creek before they discovered the Americans. Col. Mawhood imme- 
diately repassed the bridge, when he first discovered Gen. Mercer's 
detachment marching up the creek at a distance of about 500 yards 
from the bridge. Both parties then endeavored to get possession 
of the high ground on their right. The Americans reached the 
house and orchard of William Clark, but perceiving the British 
line advancing on the opposite side of the height, and a worm fence 
between them, they pushed through the orchard, and anticipated 
the enemy by about 40 paces. The first fire was delivered by Gen. 
Mercer, which the enemy returned with a volley, and instantly 
charged. The Americans being armed only with rifles, were forced, 
after the third fire, to abandon the fence, and fled in disorder. 

On hearing the firing, Gen. Washington directed the Pennsyl- 
vania militia to support Gen. Mercer, and in person led them on 
with two pieces of artillery, under Capt. Wm. Moulder, who form- 
ed in battery on the right of Thomas Clark's house. The enemy 
had pursued the detachment of Gen. Mercer as far as the brow of 
the declivity, when they discovered for the first time the American 
army. They thereupon halted, and brought up their artillery. En- 
couraged by the irresolution of the militia, they attempted to carry 
Capt. Moulder's battery ; but being galled by his grape-shot, and 
perceiving Hitchcock's and another continental regiment advancing 
from the rear of the American column, they, after a few long shot 
with the militia, retreated over the fields up the north side of Stony 
brook. This action, from the first discharge of firearms to the re- 
treat of the enemy, did not last more than fifteen or twenty min- 
utes. They left their artillery on the ground, which the Ameri- 
cans, for want of horses, could not carry off. The 55th and 40th 
regiments of the enemy made some show of resistance at the deep 
ravine, a short distance south of the village of Princeton, and at the 
college, into which they precipitated themselves on the approach of 
the Americans. It was, however, soon abandoned, and many of 
them made prisoners. In this engagement upwards of 100 of the 
enemy were killed, among whom was Capt. Leslie, whose loss they 
much regretted, and nearly 300 taken prisoners. The numerical 



272 MERCER COUXTY. 

loss of the Americans was inconsiderable, not exceeding thirty, 
fourteen only being buried in the field : but it was of great mag- 
nitude in worth and talents — Colonels Haslet and Potter. Major 
Morris, Captains Shippen, Fleming, and Xeal were officers of much 
promise. 

In the death of Gen. Mercer, the Americans lost a chief who. for 
talents, education, integrity, and patriotism, was qualified to fill 
the highest trusts of the country. " The manner in which he was 
wounded." says Gen. Wilkinson, " is an evidence of the excess to 
which the common soldiery are liable, in the heat of action, par- 
ticularly when irritated by the loss of favorite officers. Being ob- 
structed, when advancing, by a post and rail fence, in front of the 
orchard, it may be presumed the general dismounted voluntarily; 
for he was on foot when the troops gave way. In exerting himself 
to rally them, he was thrown into the rear : and. perceiving he 
could not escape, he turned about, somewhere near AVilliam Clark's 
barn, and surrendered, but was instantly knocked down, and bay- 
oneted thirteen times ; when, feigning to be dead, one of his mur- 
derers exclaimed. ^ n him! he is dead — let us have him.' Af- 
ter the retreat of the enemy, he was conveyed to the house of 
Thomas Clark, to whom he gave this account, and languished till 
the 12th. when he expired." 

The following, relative to the conflict at Princeton, was derived 
from persons living in Princeton : one of whom was an eye-witness 
of some of the scenes described. Mr. Joseph Clark states that 
Gen. Mercer was knocked down about 50 yards from his barn ; and 
after the battle was assisted, by his two aids, into tihe house of 
Thomas Clark — a new house, then just erected, which is still stand- 
ing, now owned and occupied by Mr. John Clark, about one and 
a quarter miles from the college, and about one fourth of a mile 
from the house of Mr. Thomas Clark. The late Miss Sarah Clark, 
of the Society of Friends, with a colored woman for an assistant, 
took care of Gen. Mercer, while he lived : and after his death his 
body was taken to Philadelphia, where, after laying in state, it was 
interred with military honors. The killed were buried about 200 
yards north of Mr. Joseph Clark's barn, in a kind of drift-way. 
Their bodies, frozen stiff, with their clothing mostly stripped off by 
the American soldiers, were piled into a wagon, and thus carried 
to the grave. 

The British being routed, the greater part retreated back to 
Princeton, about a mile and a quarter distant, where they had. for 
some weeks previously, occupied the college, and the large brick 
Presbyterian church, as barracks. Washington pushed on to 
Princeton, placed a few cannon a short distance from those build- 
ings, and commenced firing upon them. The first ball is said to 
have entered the prayer-hall, a room used as a chapel in the col- 
lege, and to have passed through the head of the portrait of George 
II.. suspended on the wall. After a few discharges, Capt. James 
Moore, of the militia, a daring officer, (late of Princeton,) aided by 



MERCER COUNTY. 273 

a few men, burst open a door of the building, and demanded their 
surrender ; which they instantly complied with. In the building 
were a number of invalid soldiers ; but Washington, having no 
time to spare, left those unable to travel, on their parole of honor, 
and hurried off with the rest toward Brunswick. On reaching 
Kingston, about three miles distant, a consultation of general offi- 
cers was hastily held on horseback ; when a wish was generally 
expressed, to move on to New Brunswick, fall on the British 
troops, and secure the large supplies there laid up for their winter's 
consumption. But the American troops had, besides the action in 
the morning, been fighting at Trenton the day previous, and marching 
all night over rough and frozen roads : not half of them had been 
able to obtain breakfast or dinner ; many were destitute of either 
shoes or stockings, and the whole were worn down with fatigue. 
Under these circumstances, Washington was reluctantly compelled 
to file off to the left, towards Rocky Hill. By going down the val- 
ley of the Millstone, he would avoid the British army under Corn- 
wallis, then in hot pursuit, from Trenton. Although the prize at 
Brunswick was rich and tempting, yet the danger of being held at 
bay there till the overwhelming force of Cornwallis, rapidly ap- 
proaching in his rear, should overtake his worn-out troops, pre- 
vented him from making the attempt. Cornwallis arrived at Kings- 
ton shortly after the Americans had left ; but, supposing they were 
still on the road to Brunswick, he pushed on through Kingston, and 
over Little Rocky Hill, on the main road to Brunswick, which, 
from rocks and frozen ground, was almost impassable. Here his 
baggage-wagons broke down ; but, such was his anxiety to reach 
Brunswick, he pressed on, leaving them in charge of a guard of 
200 or 300 men, to bring them on the next morning. A small compa- 
ny of 15 or 20 militia, from the neighborhood, having learned the 
situation of this baggage, soon after dark assembled and arranged 
themselves among the trees, in a semicircular form, around where 
the soldiers lay guarding their wagons. On a concerted signal, 
they set up a tremendous shout, and commenced firing. The Brit- 
ish were taken completely by surprise ; and having found, by ex- 
perience of the last ten days, that when they supposed their ene- 
mies were the farthest off, they were the nearest at hand, and their 
fears magnifying the number of their assailants, they hastily drove 
off what few wagons were in a travelling condition, and left the 
rest a prize to the militia-men, who took them the next morning 
to the American camp. Here they were opened, and found to con- 
tain what proved the most acceptable of all articles to the Ameri- 
can troops — namely, woollen clothing. 

About the close of the action at Princeton, Washington detached 
a small party to destroy the bridge over Stony Brook, at Worth's 
mills, on the road from Princeton to Trenton. This party had 
scarcely half completed their work, before the British troops from 
Trenton made their appearance on the hill a short distance west 
of the dwelling of Mr. Worth, and commenced firing upon them. 

35 



274 MERCER COUNTY. 

The Americans, however, pushed on their work with renewed 
vigor, until the cannon-balls began to strike around them, — by 
which time they had thrown off the loose planks into the stream, — 
and then hastily retreated. The baggage and artillery of the Brit- 
ish troops were detained at the bridge nearly an hour before it 
could be made passable. The troops, however, were ordered to 
dash through the stream, (then swollen and filled with running ice, 
and about breast high,) and press forward as rapidly as possible to- 
ward New Brunswick. The officer who commanded the detach- 
ment ordered to destroy the bridge, is said to have been Major (af- 
terwards Col.) John Kelly, of Pennsylvania, who died about the 
year 1835. After the British appeared in sight, it was necessary 
that some part of the bridge should be cut away, — which was an 
extremely hazardous service under the fire of the enemy. Maj. 
Kelly, disdaining to order another to do what some might say he 
would not do himself, bravely took the axe and commenced cutting 
off the logs on which the planks of the bridge were laid. Several 
balls struck into the last log he was chopping, and on which he 
stood, when it broke down sooner than he expected, and he fell with 
it into the swollen stream. His men, not believing it possible for 
him to escape, immediately fled. Maj. Kelly, by great exertion, 
got out of the water and followed after them ; but being unarmed 
and encumbered with frozen clothing, he was taken prisoner by a 
British soldier. 

On the near approach of the British troops to Princeton, their 
advance division was suddenly brought to a stand by the discharge 
of a large 32-pounder. This piece, now in the central part of the 
college grounds, formerly belonged to the British ; which Washing- 
ton was unable to take with him when he left Princeton, on ac- 
count of its carriage being broken. It was left on a temporary 
breastwork, in the vicinity of the present residence of Dr. Samuel 
Miller, near the west end of the town ; and was loaded by two or 
three persons, and pointed toward the British army. As their ad- 
vance guard were coming up the rising ground, within 300 or 400 
yards, it was discharged, which brought them instantly to a halt. 
The enemy, supposing that Washington had determined to make a 
stand under the cover of the town, sent out their reconnoitering 
parties of horsemen, and in the mean time cautiously approached 
the breastwork with their main body, determined to carry it by 
storm. By these movements, they were delayed nearly an hour ; 
and when arrived at the breastwork and the town, were astonished 
to find them destitute of defenders. 



The following, relative to the battle of Princeton and death of 
Gen. Mercer, is from " The Custis' Recollections of the Life and 
Character of Washington :" 

It was immediately after the sharp conflict at the fence, — between the 
advance guard of the American army, led by Gen. Mercer, and the British 
17th regiment, — and the retreat of the Americans through the orchards to 



MERCER COUNTY. 275 

Clark's house and barn, that Gen. Mercer, while exerting himself to rally 
his broken troops, was brought to the ground, by the blow of a musket. He 
was on foot at this time, — the gray horse he rode at the beginning of the 
action having been disabled by a ball in the fore leg. The British soldiers 
were not at first aware of the general's rank. So soon as they discovered he 
was a general officer, they shouted they had got the rebel general, and cried, 
" Call for quarters, you d — d rebel!" Mercer, to the most undaunted cour- 
age, united a quick and ardent temperament ; he replied with indignation 
to his enemies, while their bayonets were at his bosom, that he deserved not 
the name of rebel ; and, determining to die as he had lived, a true and hon- 
ored soldier of liberty, lunged with his sword at the nearest man. They 
then bayoneted him, and left him for dead. 

Upon the retreat of the enemy, the wounded general was conveyed to 
Clark's house, immediately adjoining the field of battle. The information 
that the commander-in-chief first received of the fall of his old companion 
in arms of the war of 1755, and beloved officer, was that he expired under 
his numerous wounds ; and it was not until the American army was in full 
march for Morristown, that the chief was undeceived, and learned, to his 
great gratification, that Mercer, though fearfully wounded, was yet alive. 
Upon the first halt at Somerset Court House, Washington dispatched the 
late Maj. George Lewis, (his nephew, and captain of the Horse Guard,) 
with a flag and a letter to Lord Cornwallis, requesting that every possible 
attention might be shown to the wounded general, and permission for young 
Lewis to remain with him, to minister to his wants. To both the requests 
his lordship yielded a willing assent, and ordered his staff surgeon to attend 
upon Gen. Mercer. Upon an examination of his wounds, the British sur- 
geon observed, that although they were many and severe, he was disposed 
to believe they would not prove dangerous. Mercer, bred to the profession 
of an army-surgeon in Europe, said to young Lewis, " Raise my right arm, 
George, and this gentleman will then discover the smallest of my wounds, 
but which will prove the most fatal. Yes, sir, that is a fellow that will 
soon do my business." He languished until the 12th, and expired in the 
arms of Lewis, admired and lamented by the whole army. During the 
period that he languished on the couch of suffering, he exonerated his ene- 
mies from the foul accusation which they not only bore in 1777, but for 
half a century since, — viz., of their having bayoneted a general officer 
after he had surrendered his sword and become a prisoner of war, — declar- 
ing he only relinquished his sword when his arm had become powerless to 
wield it. He paid the homage of his whole heart to the person and charac- 
ter of the commander-in-chief, rejoiced with true soldierly pride in the tri- 
umphs of Trenton and Princeton, (in both of which he had borne a con- 
spicuous part,) and offered up his fervent prayers for the final success of 
the cause of American Independence. 

We shall give a single anecdote of the subject of the foregoing memoir, 
to show the pure and high-minded principles that actuated the patriots and 
soldiers of the days of our country's first trial : 

Virginia at first organized two regiments for the common cause. When 
it was determined to raise a third, there were numerous applications for 
commissions ; and these being mostly from men of fortune and family in- 
terest, there was scarcely an application for a rank less than a field-officer. 
During the sitting of the House of Burgesses upon the important motion, a 



270 MERCER COUNTY. 

plain but soldierly-looking individual handed up to the speaker's cnair a 
scrap of paper, on which was written, " Hugh Mercer will serve his adopted 
country, and the cause of liberty, in any rank or station to which he may 
be appointed." This from a veteran soldier, bred in European camps — the 
associate of Washington in the war of 1755, and known to stand high in 
his confidence and esteem — was all-sufficient for a body of patriots and 
statesmen such as composed the Virginia House of Burgesses in the revo- 
lution. The appointment of Mercer to the command of the 3d Virginia 
regiment, was carried instanter. 

The battle of Princeton, for the time it lasted, and the numbers engaged, 
was the most fatal to our officers of any action during the whole of our rev- 
olutionary war — the Americans losing one general, two colonels, one major, 
and three captains killed — while the martial prowess of our enemy shone 
not with more brilliant lustre, in anyone of their combats during their long 
career of arms, than did the courage and discipline of the 17th British regi- 
ment, on the 3d of January, 1777. Indeed, Washington himself, during 
the height of the conflict, pointed out this gallant corps to his officers, ex- 
claiming, "See how those noble fellows fight! Ah! gentlemen, when shall 
we be able to keep an army long enough together, to display a discipline 
equal to our enemies !" 

The regular troops that constituted the grand army at the close of the 
campaign of '7G, were the fragments of many regiments, worn down by 
constant and toilsome marches and sufferings of every sort, in the depth of 
winter. The fine regiment of Smallwood, composed of the flower of the 
Maryland youth, and which, the June preceding, marched into Philadel- 
phia 1,100 strong, was, on the 3d of January, reduced to scarcely 60 men, 
and commanded by a captain. In fact, the bulk of what was then called 
the grand army, consisted of the Pennsylvania militia and volunteers, citi- 
zen soldiers who had left their comfortable homes at the call of their coun- 
try, and were enduring the rigors of a winter's campaign. On the morn- 
ing of the battle of Princeton, they had been eighteen hours under arms, 
and harassed by a long night's march. Was it, then, to be wondered at, 
that they should have given way before the veteran bayonets of their fresh 
and well-appointed foe ! 

The heroic devotion of Washington was not wanting in the exigencies 
of this memorable day. He was aware his hour was come to redeem the 
pledge he had laid on the altar of his country, when first he took up arms 
in her cause — to win her liberties or perish in the attempt. Defeat at Prince- 
ton would have amounted to the annihilation of America's last hope : for, 
independent of the enemy's force in front, Cornwallis, with 8,000 strong, 
was already panting close on the rear. It was, indeed, the very crisis of 
the struggle. In the hurried and imposing events of little more than one 
short week, liberty endured her greatest agony. What, then, is due to the 
fame and memories of that sacred band, who, with the master of liberty at 
their head, breasted the storm at this fearful crisis. of their country's 
destiny ? 

The heroic devotion of Washington on the field of Princeton, is matter of 
history. We have often enjoyed a touching reminiscence of that ever- 
memorable event, from the late Col. Fitzgerald, who was an aid to the 
chief, and who never related the story of his general's danger, and almost 
miraculous preservation, without adding to his tale the homage of a tear. 

The aid-de-camp had been ordered to bring up the troops from the rear of 



MERCER COUNTY. 277 

the column, when the band under Gen. Mercer became engaged. Upon re- 
turning to the spot where he had left the commander-in-chief, he was no 
longer there, and, upon looking around, the aid discovered him endeavoring 
to rally the line which had been thrown into disorder by a rapid onset of the 
foe. Washington, after several ineffectual efforts to restore the fortunes of 
the fight, is seen to rein up his horse, with his head to the enemy, and in 
that position to remain immovable. It was a last appeal to his soldiers, and 
seemed to say, Will you give up your general to the foe ? Such an appeal 
was not made in vain. The discomfited Americans rally on the instant and 
form into line. The enemy halt, and dress their line ; the American chief 
is between the adverse posts, as'though he had been placed there a target 
for both. The arms of both lines are levelled. Can escape from death be 
possible ? Fitzgerald, horror-struck at the death of his beloved commander, 
dropped the reins upon his horse's neck, and drew his hat over his face, that 
he might not see him die. A roar of musketry 'succeeds, and then a shout. 
It was the shout of victory. The' aid-de-camp ventures to raise his eyes : 
oh ! glorious sight, the enemy are broken and flying ; while, dimly amid 
the glimpses of the smoke, is seen the chief, " alive, unharmed, and without 
a wound," waving his hat, and cheering his comrades to the pursuit. 

Col. Fitzgerald, celebrated as one of the finest horsemen in the American 
army, now dashed his rowels in his charger's flank, and heedless of the 
dead and dying in his way, flew to the side of his chief, exclaiming, " Thank 
God ! your excellency is safe ;" while the favorite aid, a gallant and warm- 
hearted son of Erin, a man of thews and sinews, and " albeit unused to the 
melting mood," gave loose to his feelings and wept like a child for joy. 

Washington, ever calm amid scenes of the greatest excitement, affection- 
ately grasped the hand of his aid and friend, and then ordered — " Away, 
my dear colonel, and bring up the troops : the day is our own !" 



Richard Stockton, a signer of .the Declaration of Independence, was born at the 
ancient family seat of his" forefathers, near Princeton, Oct. 1, A. D. 1730. He gradu- 
ated at Princeton College in 1748, and devoting himself to the study of law, soon rose 
to eminence. Being possessed of a competent fortune, he visited Great Britain, where 
he was received with much attention ; and while there, rendered valuable services to the 
College of New Jersey. On the opening of the Revolution, he adopted with ardor his 
country's cause, and rendered her important services in various stations. On the 30th 
of November, 1776, he was, together with his friend and compatriot, Mr. Covenhoven, 
(at whose house he was temporarily staying) captured by a party of refugee royalists ; 
dragged from his bed by night ; plundered of his property ; carried to New York ; thrown 
into the common jail, and treated with such barbarity, as to lay the foundation of the disease 
which terminated in his death, February 28th, 1781. Mr. Stockton's fortune, which had 
been ample, was greatly diminished, both by the depreciation of the continental curren- 
cy, and the ravages of the British troops. His complicated afflictions hastened his death, 
which took place at his seat, near Princeton. His remains were carried to the College- 
hall, where a funeral discourse was delivered by the Rev. Dr. S. S. Smith. They were 
aftervyards interred with those of his ancestors, in the Friends burial-ground, near Prince- 
ton. '■ He was an accomplished scholar and statesman, a persuasive speaker, and an 
exemplary Christian." 

William Bainbridge, a Commodore in the American navy, was born in this town, 
May 7th, 1774. His father, a respectable physician in Princeton, removed to New 
York while he was yet a child, and he was left under the care of his grandfather, John 
Taylor, Esq., of Monmouth co., where he received his education. He entered the sea- 
service as an apprentice, on board of a merchant vessel, from Philadelphia. At the age 
of eighteen, while mate of the ship Hope, on her way to Holland, the crew, taking ad- 
vantage of a violent gale of wind, rose against the officers, seized the captain, and had 
nearly succeeded in throwing him overboard. Young Bainbridge, hearing the alarm, ran 
on deck with an old pistol, without a lock, and being assisted by an apprentice-boy and 



278 MERCER COUNTY. 

an Irish sailor, rescued the captain, seized the ringleaders, and quelled the mutiny. In 
July, 1798, he unexpectedly received the command of the United States schooner Retali- 
ation, 14 guns, to act against France. In 1800, he received a captain's commission, and 
was appointed to the command of the frigate George Washington, in which he was sent 
to Algiers, with presents which the United States had agreed to make that state. While 
at Algiers, he was compelled by the Dey to carry his ambassador and retinue with pres- 
ents, to the Grand Seignior, at Constantinople. The George Washington arrived at this 
place on the 12th of November, and when the Turkish officers were informed it was a 
United States ship, they replied they knew not of such a nation. Captain Bainbridge, by 
explaining that America was the New World, was enabled to give them some idea of 
this country. In 1803, he was appointed to the command of the frigate Philadelphia, 
which proceeded to the Mediterranean, and joined the American squadron under Com. 
modore Preble. While cruising before the harbor of Tripoli, the Philadelphia grounded, 
and her crew were obliged to surrender themselves prisoners. After a confinement 
of nineteen months, Colonel Lear having negotiated a peace with Tripoli, they were 
released. 

Soon after the declaration of war with Great Britain, in 1812, Commodore Bainbridge 
took the command of the Constitution, on the 29th of December; while running down 
the coast of Brazil, he fell in with the British frigate Java ; after an action of two hours, 
the Java's fire was completely silenced, and her colors being down, Bainbridge supposed 
that she had struck ; he therefore shot ahead to repair his rigging, but while hove-to for 
that purpose, discovered that her colors were still flying, although her mainmast had 
gone by the board. He, therefore, bore down again upon her, and having come close 
athwart her bows, was on the point of raking her with a broadside, when she hauled 
down her colors, being completely an unmanageable wreck, entirely dismasted, without 
a spar of any sort standing. On boarding her, it was found that Captain Lambert, her 
commander, was mortally wounded, and the Java so much injured, that if would be im- 
possible to bring her to the United States ; and after the prisoners and baggage were re- 
moved, she was blown up. The Java carried 49 guns and upwards of 400 men, and had, 
in addition to her own crew, upwards of 100 supernumerary officers and seamen, for dif- 
ferent ships on the East India station — among whom was a master and commander in 
the navy, and also Lieut. Gen. Hislop, and his two aids, of the British army. The Java 
had 60 killed and upwards of 100 wounded. The Constitution had 9 killed and 25 
wounded. After peace was declared, he superintended the building of the Independence, 
a ship of 74 guns, and had the honor of waving his flag on board of the first line-of- 
battle-ship belonging to the United States that ever floated. He died in Philadelphia a 
few years since. 



The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
Princeton graveyard : 

M. S. reverendi admodum viri, Aaronis Burr, A. M. Collegii Neo-Cassariensis prasi- 
dis. Natus apud Fairfield, Connecticutensium, 4 Januarii, A. D. 1716. 

S. V. Honesta in eadem colonia familia oriundus, collegio Yalensi innutritus, Novarcaa 
sacris initiatus, 1738. Annos circitcr viginti pastorali munere fidclitet functus. Collegii 
N. C. presidium, 1748, accepit, in Nassovise aulam, sub finem 1756, translatus. De- 
functus in hoc vico, 24 Septembris, A. D. 1757, S. N. setat. 42. Eheu, quam brevis I 
Huic marmori subjicitur, quod mori potuit, quod iinmortale vendicarunt cseli. 

Quaeris, viator, qualis quant usque fuit ? perpaucis accipe. Vir corpore parvo ac tenui, 
studiis, vigiliis, assiduisque laboribus, macro. Sagacitate, perspicacite, agilitate, ac sol- 
ertia, si fas dicerc, plusquam humana, pene angelica. Anima forme totus. Omnigena 
literatura instructus, theologia prasstantior ; concionator volubilis, suavis, et suadus ; 
orator facundus. Moribus facilis, candidus, et jucundus, vita egrcgie liberais ac bene- 
ficus ; supra vero omnia emicuerunt pietas ac benevolcntia. Sed ah ! quanta et quota 
ingenii, industries, prudentiae, patientiae, cacterarumque omnium virtutum exemplaria, 
marmoris sepulcliralis angustia reticebit. Multuin desideratus, multum dilectus, humani 
generis deliciae. O ! infandum sui desiderium, gemit ecclesia, plorat academia ; at 
caelum plaudit, dum ille ingreditur in gaudium Domini dulce loquentis, euge bone et fide- 
lis serve. 

Abi, viator, tuam respice finem. 

M. S. reverendi admodum viri, Jonathan Edwards, A. M. Collegii Novas. Caesareaa 
praesidis. Natus apud Windsor, Connecticutensium, 5 Octobris, A. D. 1703. S. V. 



MERCER COUNTY, 279 

Patre reverendo Timothco Edwards oriendus, collegio Yalensi educatus, apud Northamp- 
ton sacris initiatus, 15 Februarii, 1726-7. Illinc dimissus, 22 Junii, 1750, ^et munus 
barbaros instituendi acccpit. Prreses aula? Nassovica? creatus, 16 Februarii, 1758. De- 
functus in hoc vico, 22 Martii sequentis, S. N. aetatis 55, heu nimis brevis ! Hie jacet 
mortalis pars. 

Qualis persona qua?ris viator ? Vir corpore procero, sed gracili, studiis intentissimis, 
abstinentia, et sedulitate, attenuato. Ingenii acumine, judicio acri, et prudentia, secun- 
dus nemini mortalium. Artium liberalium et scientiarum peritia insignis, criticorum 
sacrorum optimus, theologus eximius. Ut vix alter aequalis, disputator candidus ; fidei 
Christiana; propugnator validus et invictus ; concionator gravis, serius, discriminans ; et, 
Deo favente, successu foelicissimus. Pietate pra?clarus, moribus suis severus, ast aliis 
aequus et benignus, vixit dilectus, veneratus — sed ah ! lugendus moriebatur. 

Quantos gemitus discedens ciebat ! Heu sapientia tanta ! Heu doctrina et religio ! 
Amissum plorat collegium, plorat et ecclesia ; at, eo recepto, gaudet ccelum. Viator, et 
pia sequere vestigia. 

Sub hoc marmore sepulchrah mortales exuvia? reverendi perquam viri Samuelis Da- 
vies, A. M. collegii Nov-Ca?sariensis pra3sidis, futurum Domini adventum praestolantur. 

Ne te, viator, ut pauca de tanto tamque dilecto viro resciscas, paulisper morari pigeat. 
Natus est in comitatu de Newcastle, juxta Delaware, 3 Novembris, anno salutis repa- 
rata?, 1724. S. V. Sacris ibidem initiatus, 19 Februarii, 1747, tutelam pastoralem ecclesia? 
in comitatu de Hanover, Virginiensium suscepit. Ibi per 11 plus minus annos, ministri 
evangelici laboribus indefesse et, favente numine, auspicato perfunctus. Ad munus 
praesidiale collegii Nov-Caesariensis gerendum vocatus est, et inauguratus, 26 Julii, 1759, 
S. N. Sed, proh rerum inane ! intra biennium febre corrcptus candidam animam ccelo 
reddidit, 4 Februarii, 1761. Heu quam exiguum vita? curriculum ! Corpore fait eximio ; 
gestu liberali, placido, augusto. Ingenii nitore, morum integritate, munificentia, facili- 
tate, inter paucos illustris. Rei literaria? peritus ; theologus promptus perspicax ; in ros- 
tris, per eloquium blandum, mellitum, vehemens simul et perstringens, nulli secundus. 
Scriptor ornatus, sublimis, disertus. Praesertim vero pietate, ardente in Deum zelo et 
reli<none spectandus. In tanti viri, majora meriti, memoriam diuturnam amici hoe 
qualecunque monumentum, honoris ergo et gratitudinis, posuere. Abi, viator, ei semulare. 

Memoria? sacrum reverendi Samuelis Finley, S. T. D. collegii Neo-Csesariensis praesi- 
dis. Armacha? in Hibernia natus, A. D. 1715. In Americam migravit, anno 1734. 
Sacris ordinibus initiatus est, anno 1743, apud Novum Brunsvicum Neo-Ca?sariensium, 
Ecclesia? Nottinghami Pennsylvaniensium, munus pastorale suscepit, 14 kal. Jul. 1744; 
ibique, academia? celeberrima? diu pra?fuit. Designatus praises collegii Neo-Ca?sariensis 
officium inivit id. Jul. 1761. Tandem dilectus, veneratus, omnibus flendus, morti accu- 
buit Philadelphia;, 15 kal. Sextilis, A. D. 1766. Artibus literisque excultus prae cseteria 
praecipue innituit rerum divinarum scientia. Studio divina? glorias flagrans, summis opi- 
bus ad veram religionem promovendam, et in concionibus, et in sermone familiari operam 
semper navabat. Patientia, modestia, mansuetudo miranda animo moribusque enitue- 
runt. Oh charitatem, observantiam, vigilantiam, ergajuvenes fidei sua? mandatos fuit in- 
signissimus; moribus ingenius, pietate sincera, vixit omnibus dilectus, moriens triumphavit. 

ReliquiaB mortales Joannis Witiierspoon, D. D. LL. D. collegii Neo-Caesariensis pra- 
sidis, plurimum venerandi, sub hoc marmore inhumantur. Natus parochio Yestrensi, 
Scotorum, nonis Februarii, 1722, V. S. literis humanioribus in universitate Edinburgensi 
imbutus ; sacris ordinibus initiatus, anno 1743, munere pastorali per viginti quinque an- 
nos fideliter functus est, primo apud Beith, deinde apud Paisly. Praescs designatus- 
aula? Nassovica?, anno 1767. In Americam migravit, anno 1768, idibusque Sextilis, 
maxima expectatione omnium, munus praesidiale suscepit. Vir eximia pietate, ac vir- 
tute ; omnibus dotibus animi pra?ccllens; doctrina atque optimarum artium studiis, pen- 
itus eruditus. Concionator gravis, solemnis, orationes ejus sacra? praeceptis, et institutis- 
vita? pra?stantissimis, nee non expositionibus sacrosancta? scriptura? dilucidis, sunt re- 
pleta?. In sermone familiari comis, lepidus, blandus, rerum ecclesia? forensium peritissi- 
mus ; summa prudentia et in regenda, et instituenda juventute, praeditus. Existimationem 
collegii apud peregrinos auxit ; bonasque literas in eo multum provexit. Inter lumina 
clarissima, et doctrina?, et ecclesia?, diu vixit. Tandem veneratus, dilectus, lugendus 
omnibus animam effiavit, 17 kal. Dec. anno salutis mundi 1794, a?tatis sua? 73. 

Hoc tumulo conditur Quod mortale fuit viri admodum reverendi Samuelis Stanhope 



280 MERCER COUNTY. 

Smith, S. T. D., LL. D. Nuper Collegii Neo-CaEsariensis Praesidis. Et ejusdem sac- 
rosanctae Theologies et Philosophic moralis Professoris. Natus Pequeae Pennsylvanien- 
sium, A. D. MDCCL. Evangelii ministri insignis, filius ipse insignior ; Literis human- 
ioribus in Aula Nassovica imbutus : In eadein Tutor tres annos ; ordinibus sacris initi- 
atus A. D. MDCCLXXIV. Academiae Hampden Sydniensis apud Virginienses, Fun- 
dator, et primus Rector Inde revocatus ejus Alma Matre, ad munus Professoris A. D. 
MDCCLXXIX ; vice Presses creatus A. D. MDCCLXXXVI ; Denique Prasidis digni- 
tate exomatus A. D. MDCCXCV ; Quibus muniis omnibus praeclaris et gravissimis sat- 
isfecit, quanta ipsius laude, quantoque bono publico, alumni permulti studiosi et sibi de- 
vinetissimi ubique testantor. Sed eheu ! aliis inserviendo ipse consumitor. Laboris 
fractus assiduis morbisque creberrimis. Sceptrum Academicum alteri dcdit A. D. 
MDCCCXII, iEtatis sua? LXIX. Theologia Philosophia omnique doctrina excultus ; In 
docendo peritus, in scribendo ornatus. In concionando perpolitis, gravis et valde diser- 
tus ; Beneficentia, hospitalitate, urbanitate, venustate praetans. Ecclesiae, Patriae, Lit- 
erarum, Collegii Decus. Hocce martnor, In memoriam operarum ejus, dotumque ex- 
imiarum. Et reverentiae suae, Curatores Collegii Neo-Cassariensis Ponendum atque 
inscribendum curaverunt. 

Walter Minto, LL. D., Professor of Mathematics and Philosophy in the College of 
New Jersey, was born in the county of Meroe, in Scotland, Dec. 5th, 1753 ; and died in 
this town Oct. 21st, 1796. 

LaUS DEO OPTIMO MAXIMO. 

Intra hoc sepulchrum, depositee sunt spe resurrectionis beatae Reliquiae Mortales 
Joiiannis Maclean, M. D. Viri admodum vencrandi ; omnibus dotibus animi prae- 
cellentis. Qui Glascuas Scotorum natus, Kal. Martii A. D. MDCCLXXI. In Ameri- 
can! migravit Anno MDCCXCV. Physics Naturalis Scientia penitus instructus et 
Arte Chemica praecipue florens. Earum Artium in Academia Nassovica Professor 
designatus est. Prid. Kal. Oct. ejusdem anni Professoribus ac Juventuti in Collegio Mire 
dilectus, atque observatus. Evita eheu ! decessit omnibus plorandus Idibus Februarii, 
MDCCCXIV. 

In memory of Guy Chew, a Mohawk Indian, who departed this life April 19th, 1826, 
aged 21 years 8 months. This youth continued in Pagan darkness until his 18th year, 
when, under the patronage of the U. F. M. Society, he was sent to the mission school 
at Cornwall, Conn. Here he remained three years, experienced the renewing grace of 
God, and became eminent for his benevolence, piety, and desire to proclaim the gospel to 
his countrymen. While preparing for this blessed work, he was by a mysterious Provi- 
dence called away in the morning of his days. Reader, pray for the Indians. 

The celebrated Col. Aaron Burr was buried in the Princeton graveyard 
near his father, President Burr. He was interred with the honors of war; 
the professors and students of the college, and some of the clergy and citi- 
zens, united with the relatives and friends of the deceased in the proces- 
sion. Col. Burr was born at Newark, Feb. 6th, 1756. Both his parents 
died before he reached the third year of his age, and left him in the posses- 
sion of a handsome estate. While under the care of Dr. Shippen of Phila- 
delphia, when but about four years old, having some difficulty with his pre- 
ceptor, he ran away, and was not found until the third or fourth day after- 
ward : thus indicating, at this early age, a fearlessness of mind, and reli- 
ance on himself, which characterized the subsequent acts of his life. At 
the age of ten he ran away from his uncle, Timothy Edwards, for the pur- 
pose of going to sea. He entered Princeton College, and graduated at the 
age of sixteen years, receiving the highest academic honors of the institu- 
tion, though his moral character at this period could not be considered of 
the highest order. On the breaking out of the revolution, Col. Burr, im- 
pelled by military honor, joined the American army, and was a volunteer 
in Arnold's celebrated expedition through the wilderness to Quebec. He 
was afterward for a short period in the family of Washington, but becom 



MERCER COUNTY. 281 

ing somewhat dissatisfied with that great man, he became aid to Gen. Put- 
nam, and was afterward appointed lieutenant-colonel. Col. Burr next turn- 
ed his attention to the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1782, 
and commenced practice in Albany. In 1791, he was appointed a Senator 
of the United States, and in 1801, Vice-President. 

In the autumn of 1806, a project was detected, at the head of which was 
Col. Burr, said to be for revolutionizing the territory west of the Alle- 
ghanies, and for establishing an independent empire there, of which New 
Orleans was to be the capital, and himself the chief. Burr was appre- 
hended, and brought to trial Aug. 1807; no overt act being proved against 
him, he was acquitted. Col. Burr died at Staten Island, N. Y., September 
14th, 1836. " It is truly surprising," says his biographer, " how any indi- 
vidual could have become so eminent as a soldier, a statesman, and as a pro- 
fessional man, who devoted so much time to the other sex as was devoted by 
Colonel Burr. For more than half a century of his life they seemed to ab- 
sorb his whole thoughts. His intrigues were without number ; his conduct 
most licentious." 



TRENTON. 

Trenton, the capital of New Jersey, is situated on the east side 
of the Delaware, at the mouth of Assunpink creek, opposite the 
falls or rapids, and is in 40° 13' N. lat., and 75° 48' W. long, from 
Greenwich, and 2° 16' E. long, from Washington. The first set- 
tlements, made about the year 1679, at the Falls of the Delaware* 
by the Friends, were on both sides of the river. Those on the New 
Jersey side were on the low land at the mouth of the Assunpink, 
and on " the Plains" where Messrs. Norton and Laylor's farms and 
Mill Hill and Lamberton are situated. 

The Friends, who had left England on account of the persecution raised 
against them for their religion, sought an asylum on the peaceful shores of 
the Delaware, where they have, undisturbed, enjoyed the privileges of reli- 
gious as well as civil freedom. For many years they had no public build- 
ings for worship, but their meetings were held in private houses. 

" Governor William Penn, who, in the year 1683, issued an order for the 
establishment of a post-office, requested Phineas Pemberton carefully to 
publish the information on the meeting-house door, that is, on the door of the 
private house in which the society of Friends was then accustomed to meet. 
It was usual for Friends settled about the Falls, to assemble at the houses 
of William Yardley, James Harrison, Phineas Pemberton, William Biles, 
and William Beakes ; for the meeting-house at the Falls (or Fallsington) 
was not built till 1690, nor the one at Burlington till 1696, nor the one at 
Bristol until 1710." The meeting-house in Trenton city was built in 1739. 
(See date on the meeting-house in Hanover street.) This house has beenoc 

* " The Indians called the falls and its vicinity Sankhican, from a gun or fire-lock, 
a name given by the Dela wares to a tribe of the Mohawks, who occupied this section of 
country: they being the first who were supplied with muskets by the Europeans. 
Assunpink (creek) signifies Stone water, or ' stone in the water,' this being the first 
water or place where the Indians in going up the river found stone." — Communication 
from Thomas Gordon, Esq., of Trenton. 

36 



282 MERCER COUNTY. 

cupied for the same purpose until this time. At the time of the separation in 
1828, one part of the society left this house, and now hold their meetings in 
the building at the corner of Greene and Academy streets, formerly the 
Methodist church. 

It seldom happens but that disasters of some kind befall the first settlers 
of a new country. Many of the inhabitants in the vicinity of the Falls 
were visited with sickness, and were removed by death, by a malignant 
fever, which prevailed among them in 1687, both in Pennsylvania and New 
Jersey. 

Phineas Pemberton says that on the 16th of 3d month, [that is, March 
16th,] 1687, there was " a great land-flood," and on the 29th, "a rupture." 
This is supposed to refer to the formation of the island at Morrisville, oppo- 
site the Trenton bridge, which was at this time separated from the main 
land. 

The flood here mentioned is probably the same as that mentioned by Mr. 
Smith, as occurring in 1692 ; and there appears to be an error in one of the 
statements. For it is supposed that so great a rise in the waters as to over- 
flow the banks on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware at the Falls, must 
have swept away the settlement on the low lands at the mouth of the As- 
sunpink ; and yet this is said not to have occurred until 1692. The lands 
on the Jersey shore might, however, have been much higher than on the 
Pennsylvania side; and probably they were, as they were tilled for many 
years afterward. 

About the year 1700 the settlements were commenced by persons who 
purchased the lands from the original proprietors, or persons who had taken 
up the lands ; and most of the deeds for plantations in the different parts of 
the township bear date from 1699 to 1710. 

From the year 1700 the settlement of the township increased by persons 
from Long Island, from East Jersey, and other parts. Messrs. Daniel How- 
ell, Ebenezer Prout, Isaac Reeder, John Burroughs, Charles Clark, Richard 
Scudder, Robert Lanning, John Lanning, Jacob and Isaac Reeder, Wm. 
Reed, Simon Sacket, John Deane, John and Abiel Davis, Jonathan Davis, 
and others, settled in what is now Ewing, as appears from their deeds and 
family records; and in April, 1703, Mr. John Hutchinson (only son and 
heir of Thomas Hutchinson, who died intestate) conveyed a lot of land to 
the inhabitants of Hopewell for a place of burial, and to erect a public meet- 
ing-house thereon. 

This was, probably, the first house which was built for public worship 
in the township of Hopewell. It was occupied by the Episcopalians until 
their church was built in Trenton, and occasionally for many years after. 

The ground was long used as a place of burial by many families. The 
remains of the widow of Col. William Trent were buried there. But few 
vestiges remain to mark the spot where stood the first temple of the Lord in 
the then county of Hunterdon. 

The Presbyterians obtained a lot of land for a place of burial, and on 
which to build a church, from Mr. Alexander Lockart, who lived on the 
plantation now owned by the children of the late Dr. Joseph Olden. The 
deed bears date March the 9th, 1709. The land was granted in trust to 
Richard Scudder, John Burroughs, Ebenezer Prout, Daniel Howell, John 
Deane, John Davis, Jonathan Davis, Enoch Anderson, William Osborne, 
Jacob Reeder, Cornelius Anderson, John Siferons, Simon Sacket, George 
Farley, Caleb Farley, William Reed, and Joseph Sacket. Not long after 
this, probably in the year 1712, a house was built of logs for a place of 



MERCER COUNTY. 283 

public worship, near the spot on which the brick church now stands. In a 
few years after, the log building was taken down and a frame building 
erected, which was occupied until the year 1795, when the present brick 
church was built. We have no records to show with certainty the year 
in which the frame church was built ; but from an inscription on a tablet 
which was placed in the old stone church, in Trenton city, a little west of 
the present Presbyterian church, (which is a branch from the church in the 
country) it is pretty evident that it was built in the year 1726. The in- 
scription is, "Founded in 1712 — built in 1726." These dates could not re- 
fer to the house in the city, because, even at this last date, there was scarce- 
ly one house where the city is now built. 

Kalm, a Swede, who travelled in this country in 1748, says that his land- 
lord in Trenton told him that 22 years before, (1726,) when he first settled 
there, there was hardly more than one house. In August, 1814, Mrs. Je- 
mima Howell, (youngest daughter of Mr. John Burroughs,) who was born 
in the year 1725, informed the writer, that although she could not tell when 
the frame church [in Ewing] was built, yet she remembered that she had 
helped to scrub it, 70 years ago. She also well remembered, she said, when 
there were but two or three small houses where the city of Trenton is built ; 
and that it was woods from the neighborhood of the frame church to Stacy's 
(now Wain's) mills ; that they had only a foot-path for many years after ; 
and that the farmers carried their grain to that market on pack-horses. 

Kalm says, that in 1748 there were near a hundred houses in Trenton. 
The probability is, from the description he has given of the town of Tren- 
ton, that he included the buildings on the north and south sides of the As- 
sunpink. He says that there were two small churches ; one belonging to 
the Church of England, and the other to the Presbyterians. It is probable 
that these houses had been built but a few years. As Nottingham and Hope- 
well were settled almost entirely by Friends, there is reason to suppose that 
they were among the first to erect places for public worship ; and they prob- 
ably were, as their house was built in 1739 ; and in 1726 there were "no 
more than one or two houses" in this place. The large white brick-house, 
now standing on the corner of Greene (formerly Queen) and Hanover 
streets, was built in the year 1740. Nearly all the first buildings, in what 
is now the city, were on or near the York road, (now Greene-street,) which 
led from Mahlon Stacy's mills. The Presbyterian and Episcopal churches 
were both branches of their respective churches in the country. Most of 
the Episcopal families at first lived above the falls, in the vicinity of the 
church they built on the ground granted by the Hutchinson family. As 
Mr. Thomas Hutchinson died before this ground was appropriated for a buri- 
al-place, the family selected a spot on the manor, where several of them, 
and others, were buried. This spot is about 15 or 20 rods east of the road, 
at the brow of the hill, and nearly in front of the old Manor-house, which 
was on the farm now owned by Mr. John Titus. 

In August, 1714, Mahlon Stacy sold his plantation of 800 acres, lying 
on both sides of the Assunpink creek, on the Delaware, to Col. Wm. Trent, 
of Philadelphia. Col. Trent was a gentleman of great respectability; and 
was for several years speaker of the house of assembly in Pennsylvania ; 
and in September, 1723, he was chosen speaker of the house of assembly in 
New Jersey. In this year Wm. Trent and John Reading were appointed 
commissioners for the county of Hunterdon. Mr. Trent died at Philadel- 
phia, May 29, 1724. 

The lot on which the courthouse was built, is now owned by the Trenton 



294 MERCER COUNTY. 

Banking Company, and their banking-house stands upon it. It was con- 
veyed to the Trenton Banking Company by the board of chosen freeholders 
of the county of Hunterdon, May 8, 1814 ; just 100 years after it was 
purchased by Wm. Trent, by whom, it is said, (I know not by what author, 
ity, except traditionary testimony,) the lot was given to the county. And it 
is probable this grant was made by Mr. Trent to the county about the year 
1720 ; and that, in compliment to him for the gift, the place was called 
Trenton, or, as it was first written, Trent's town. Until this time, what is 
now known as the city of Trenton, and townships of Hopewell and Ewing, 
was known as Hopewell ; for the courts of the county, until 1719, were 
held at Wm. Yard's and A. Heath's, in Hopewell. 

In September, 1719, the courts were held in Trenton. "It having been 
represented to the governor that the holding of the courts alternately in 
Maidenhead and Hopewell was attended with inconvenience, it was, in 
March, 1719, ordained that the courts should be held and kept in Trenton 
from the month of September next ensuing." The magistrates present at 
the first court in the county, held at Maidenhead, were John Banbridge, Ja- 
cob Bellerjeau, Philip Phillips, Wm. Green, John Holcomb, Samuel Green, 
and Samuel Fitch. Wm. Green and John Reading were the first assessors 
of Hunterdon, and Ralph Hunt the first collector. 

The first grand jurors were Wm. Hickson, Daniel Howell, Robert Lan- 
ning, Henry Mershon, Richard Compton, George Woolsey, Joseph Reeder, 
jr., Thomas Standling, Richard Scudder, Timothy Baker, John Burroughs, 
John Titus, Samuel Everett, John Ely, and Richard Lanning. John Muir- 
head, high-sheriff, complained to the court in 1714 and 1717, and in June, 
1719, and in March, 1720, that there was no jail for the county. In 1728-9 
John Dagworthy, Esq., high-sheriff, complained to the court that the jail 
was so out of repair that escapes took place daily. " Ordered to be re- 
paired." In 1724 it was enacted that the supreme court for the county of 
Hunterdon should be held in July, at Trent's town. 

About the year 1721, a log jail for the county was built at the forks of 
the roads leading from Trenton to Pennington, and from Pennington to the 
8 mile ferry, nearly opposite the residence of the late Jesse Moore, Esq. 

Although the sheriff complained to the court of the daily escapes from 
the jail, there do not appear on the records of the court many criminal 
cases presented by the grand jury. They found a bill, at one of the courts, 
against a man "for stealing a book called the New Testament ;" and at an- 
other court, against a man "for stealing a horse-bell." Besides these, but 
very few bills were found. 

From the best information which can at present be obtained, it appears 
pretty evident that there were but very few buildings in the place, until af- 
ter 1730 or '35. About the year 1740, several buildings were erected. 
Mr. Plasket built the Friends meeting-house in 1739 ; and Obadiah Howell, 
the uncle of the present Obadiah Howell, sen., informed our citizen, Mr. 
Thomas Ryall, that he put the date of 1739 on that house himself, being 
then an apprentice to Mr. Plasket ; and that the brick house, corner of 
Hanover and Greene streets, was built by Thomas Tindall, in 1740. In 
1748, there were nearly one hundred houses in the place. The flourishing 
condition in which the town appears to have been at that time, and its ad- 
vantageous location for business, led the inhabitants to anticipate its rapidly 
increasing growth and prosperity ; and, supposing that both would be pro- 
moted by an act of incorporation by the crown, conferring borough privi- 
leges, in the 19th year of the reign of King George II., (1746,) Gov. Lewis 



MERCER COUNTY. 285 

Morris, and a number of the inhabitants of this district of country, sent a 
petition to the king, stating that Trenton was the head of sloop navigation, 
and that a variety of circumstances rendered the place favorable for busi- 
ness, and that its interests would be greatly promoted by such an act. Ac- 
cordingly a royal charter was granted for a borough, the limits of which are 
described as follows, viz : "Beginning at the mouth of Crosswick's creek ; 
thence up said creek to the mouth of Doctor's creek ; thence up the said 
creek to Keith's line, between East and West Jersey ; thence along said 
line, including Maidenhead and Hopewell, between Hopewell and Amwell, 
to Delaware river ; thence down said river to the place of beginning : to be 
known as the borough and town of Trenton." Thomas Cadwallader, Esq., 
was appointed chief burgess ; Nathaniel Ware, recorder ; David Martin, 
marshal ; and Andrew Reed, treasurer. The other burgesses were Wm. 
Morris, Joseph Warrell, Daniel Coxe, Andrew Smith, Alexander Lockart, 
David Martin, Robert Pearson, Andrew Reed, Theophilus Phillips, Joseph 
Decow, Samuel Hunt, and Reuben Armitage. 

The common council were Joseph Paxton, Theophilus Severns, Benjamin 
Biles, Jasper Smith, Cornelius Ringo, Jonathan Stout, Jonathan Waters, 
Thomas Burrows, jr., George Ely, John Hunt, John Dagworthy, jr., Joseph 
Phillips, John Welling, William Plasket, Daniel Lanning, and Benjamin 
Greene. But the inhabitants not experiencing the benefits which were an- 
ticipated from their charter, they surrendered it to King George II., in the 
23d year of his reign, (1750.) 

In the year 1756, George II. granted a patent, incorporating the Presby- 
terian church of Trenton ; appointing Rev. David Cowell, Charles Clark, 
Esq., Andrew Reed, Esq., Joseph Yard, Arthur Howell, William Green, 
and Alexander Chambers, trustees, under the name of " Trustees of the 
Presbyterian Church of Trenton." In 1790, Trenton was made the seat of 
government of New Jersey. On Nov. 13th, 1792, the city of Trenton 
was erected from a part of the township of Trenton, with the usual corpo- 
rate city privileges. In the summer of 1793, the yellow fever prevailing 
at Philadelphia, the public offices of the United States were removed here.* 

Trenton city is situated on Delaware river, 55 m. SW. of New 
York, 30 NE. from Philadelphia, 10 SW. from Princeton, 26 SW. 
from New Brunswick, and 166 from Washington. In 1840, the 
population of Trenton and the borough of South Trenton was up- 
wards of 6,000. Of this number, there were in the city proper 
4,035, the remainder in South Trenton. In the city proper, in 1840, 
there were 103 persons engaged in commerce, 571 in manufactures 
and trades, and 41 in the learned professions. The city is at the 
head of steamboat navigation, is regularly laid out, and has many 
handsome public and private buildings. The localities of Mill Hill, 
Bloomsbury, and Lamberton, combined in the borough of South 
Trenton, extending upwards of a mile down the Delaware, would, 
in a general description of Trenton, be considered as a part of the 
city. In the city proper, there are a state-house, 100 feet by 60, 

* For the preceding historical notice of Trenton, the compilers of this work are in- 
debted to a series of articles recently published in the Trenton State Gazette, written by 
the Rev. Eli F. Cooley, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Ewing. 



286 



MERCER COUNTY. 



built of stone, and stuccoed in imitation of granite, a house for the 
residence of the governor of the state, 2 banks, the state-library, 
established in 1750, a city hall, a lyceum, and 7 churches, 1 Pres- 
byterian, 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Episcopal, 2 Friends, 1 Methodist, 
and 1 African Methodist. In South Trenton are the Mercer court- 
house and offices, the state-prison, 4 churches, 1 Baptist, 1 Reform 




Bridge across the Delaware, at Trenton. 

ed Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 1 Catholic. In 1840, there were in 
Trenton proper, 50 retail stores, cap. $196,300; 4 lumber-yards, 
cap. $ 4,900 ; 3 tanneries, 1 brewery, 1 pottery, 3 paper fac, cap. 
$30,000 ; 1 rope-walk, 2 flouring-m., 2 grist-m., 3 saw-m., 3 print- 
ing-offices, 2 binderies, 2 weekly and 1 semi- weekly newspapers ; 
total cap. in manufac. $247,800 ; 4 acad. 104 students, 10 schools, 
314 scholars. 

The Delaware and Raritan canal, forming a sloop navigation 
from Bordentown to New Brunswick, passes through Trenton, and 
is here entered by a feeder taken from the Delaware, 23 miles above 
the city. The canal crosses the Assunpink creek, east of the town, 
in a fine stone aqueduct. Above the falls, the Delaware is navi- 
gable for large boats as far as Easton, Pa., which adds much to the 
commercial advantages of Trenton. The railroad from Jersey City 
to Camden passes just east of the central part of the place. A 
railroad branches off at the depot, crosses the Trenton bridge, and 
continues down the west bank of the Delaware to Philadelphia. A 
company was chartered in 1831, with a capital of $200,000, for 
the purpose of taking the water from the river by means of a dam 
and race-way, and carrying it along and below the city, which has 
created a very extensive water-power for manufacturing purposes. 
The Assunpink creek, which divides the city from the borough of 
South Trenton, also furnishes considerable water-power. 

About half a mile from the central part of Trenton, is the beau- 
tiful covered bridge across the Delaware, justly considered one of 
the finest specimens of bridge architecture, of wood, in the world. 
This bridge, 1,100 feet in length, was commenced in May, 1804, 



MERCER COUNTY. 



287 



and finished in Feb., 1806, at an expense of $180,000. It reflects 
credit upon Mr. Burr, its architect, combining, as it does, the three 
great objects, convenience of travelling, strength, and durability. 
The floor is supported by perpendicular iron rods hanging from the 
arches. It withstood the great flood of 1841, unharmed ; while the 
more frail structures of a later day were swept away. It is cross- 
ed by the Philadelphia and Trenton railroad. 




View of the County Buildings, South Trenton. 

The annexed is an eastern view of the county buildings in 
South Trenton, erected upon the formation of Mercer co. The large 
building in the centre is the courthouse ; that on the left, the sur- 
rogate's, and the one on the right, the clerk's office. These edifices 
are built of brick, in the Grecian style, and stuccoed. The steps 
are of granite, and the basement of sandstone. These buildings 
were finished in 1839, and cost, exclusive of ground, about $70,000. 



References. 

A. Observatory. 

B. Entrance. 

C. Porch. 

D. D. Corridors 



Plan of the State-prison. 

The state-prison is situated in South Trenton, about three fourths 
of a mile below the central part of Trenton, within a few rods of 




288 



MERCER COUNTY. 



the Delaware and Raritan canal, and the railroad from Jersey 
City to Camden. It consists of a main building, in which reside 
the family of the keeper, and his assistants. The two wings con- 
tain the convicts. These buildings are surrounded by stone walls, 
20 feet high, and 3 feet thick, which enclose an area of 4 acres. 




View in the central part of Trenton. 

It is in contemplation, whenever it becomes necessary for the ac- 
commodation of additional prisoners, to build wings, which, like 
the present, will radiate from the main building. The prison is 
warmed by tubes of hot water, passing through the cells. In the 
coldest weather, the cells can thus be warmed to a temperature 
of 65°. They are ventilated by apertures in the exterior walls, 
and also by a flue from each cell to the top of the roof. The air 
is pure, the outlet pipes perfectly ventilating the building. These 
pipes are cleaned by water, about 15,000 gallons being daily 
used for that purpose. The prison is almost perfectly secure. 
Only one convict has ever escaped, and that when the walls were 
new, and the mortar soft, so that he was enabled to pry his way 
through. 

" The convicts are employed principally in making shoes, chairs, and in weaving 
The earnings of the prison now exceed the expenses. This result has been, in a great 
measure, produced by the system of cash sales and purchases, and rigid economy in 
expenditures.* 'The provisions and clothing of the prisoners are, in all respects, suit- 
able to their wants ; and their general health is good. The testimony of every sue- 
ceeding year is thus accumulating in favor of this system of punishment. The prisoner 
condemned to solitary confinement, at hard labor, has leisure to reflect upon the folly and 
wickedness which have consigned him to the walls of a dungeon, and to resolve upon a 

* Report of the joint committee on the condition of the state-prison, for 1842. 



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MERCER COU>"TY. 



291 



~— ■---■ ■' i:_:- i:.- ;_-- : ; '■- = ' H: _- — .1 -.in. — 1 r:~ :: ; '--- " '■ '■ "- "-- 

r-_ :t I— :.;:-? 1- . 1 : 1.- - -: .- : - . :: : •: ' " —-- z .~.'z :~ ~— : 1 it n; :-tti 
c;:t'i • - : .: .i :.-: 1 -1:1 " S 1 i= i ^ii- n" ~ : 'iiti: i-i :i r?:": — it 1 
jala, the committee befiere that the preset gyatem a ■ * !■ i M i ldiptr J to M - 
£. : -.- - •: = : - :r 11; ir. 1 ::■::;::• ---? j"i";::t::: Ut p:ii 

librarr of near 300 Tolmnes. ice the cse of the eon-viets. The boots are ■well selected, 
and the prisoners avail themselves of the privilege of reading them, with great alaenrr. 
T ..- •:..:---•. 1 = ' z-: - ---- -::-:- .- ■ 1 -" 1 Utj lv ;""-"' : ~ : — : - — -? — :: 

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The foregoir.- - - . is from a drawing taken near the Pres 
rian church, looking westward. The first building on the right is 
the Presbyterian church, an elegant brick edifice. The next build- 
ing beyond is the city-halL on the corner of Second and Green - 
A few* rods south from thi- is the bridge 

creek, at a localirv of historic interest. T_t - reataa market is 
in the distance, standing in the middle of the street^ and be- 
yond is the cupola of the statehouse. 




t : ----- - 

Near the railroad depot, in the environs of Trent:: - neat 

and beautiful row of private dwellings designated as "fAe cot::. 
They were built a few years - . under : -intendenee of 

Messrs. Hotchkiss ^: Th:n:rscn : and, while they refle :: credft up- 
on the skill of the arc. fcs form a pleasing exhibition of an im- 
proved taste in the c: stn n of private resadeac 



BATTLE OF TRKNTOS 
The battle of Trenton, the turning point in the American revo- 
lution, will ever render Trenton memorable in the annals of Ameri- 
can h>* --;- 7 present all the fcs . may be deemed of in- 
terest respecting this impc r - .1 accour same 
- ill be given. The introda aotiees : Trenton 
timeof the eaptm Hess moQeof 
a sres g - pub- 










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MERCEE COU3TI ~ ; 1 

q : ^_ r ,__,..._ ... .-._,_- . ... -. - - : - ; - , Air-: ir "- C — - ::— r 
: - . - :• ' --.:-. n - :; :-- -.:_ .: : Li.^ ""- I-;_"":.-ii. ^ - 
which it beads to the west, and na br Trent's raiBs, iu Qoeea-st, to the Mmie. 
7 .: !.-„:-.:- :.: : : - . -_-,- :J Ur :^-- r:.i: -:-:=riC -- :: — :~ - :. - z^. 

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The fbfl . ngl ::oimt of the batr nton, 

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ters. Xewto .~ I>ec. 17~ 



.-.f : iji 15: - :-"-: " :: .. £ : - • 

:.-. i:. : -':.._;. ~ i- eir:.^: vr? f::iv ~:n j 

The evening of th-e - ! red the troops in t en de d for this service to 

r-iTiir i: .•: :: ?.:>. \-ir; - 7:;- " — 7i; ::f . r -" j:-- 

— 
:bem all th the necessary artillery 'clock, and that 

- - 

- 
--' the boats so much, that it w a i ;k betbre the a: 

. _■ - - - . ■ 

I formed my detachment into two divisions, — one to march up the lower 
rear road, the other by the upper or Pennington road. As the d ivfcaom 
...•-■-- 

upon: -rtiards. to posh directly into the town, that they might 

■e '.he ener had time to form. The upper division ar- 

: . • --' 

". • _■ ' 
■ • j . . - i - - - - _ " " " : - - 

— keeping up a constant retreating fire from 
:«er.:r. : ;.:_-■- 

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off by a road on their right, leading to Princeton ; hot, perceiving their in- 
tention, I threw a body of troops in their way. which immediately checked 

- , 7 __- - - . . 

made any farther resistance, they 
arms. The number that submitted in this man- 

■ - . - " . . : _- : " : 7 -■ - : . i : 

■ I :: -:: 

r.ai kflk .not abc- — 

... — 

rrs and one or _ 

1 that the detachment of the enemy consisted of the 3 Hessian ■ 

- of Landspatch. Kuphansen, and Rohl, amounting to abcu: 
men. and a troop of immediately upon the begm- 

:: the attack, all thos not killed or taken poshed directly 

down the road toward Bordentowm. T old hare fallen into 

:-: ra: 7? ::7.i :vv tl.1- ;: v.? V; " ' - ,v- : ':-'--- :i.rr;i n:: --\-; ; _ :.: _: .-r~. 

• - 

...... . . : _ . 



294 MERCER COUNTY 

that though he did every thing in his power to effect it, he could not cross. 
This difficulty also hindered Gen. Cadwallader from crossing with the Penn- 
sylvania militia from Bristol. He got part of his foot over, but, finding it 
impossible to embark his artillery, he was obliged to desist. I am fully 
confident that, could the troops under Generals Ewing and Cadwallader 
have passed the river, I should have been enabled, with their assistance, to 
have driven the enemy from all their posts below Trenton ; but the num- 
bers I had with me being inferior to theirs below, and a strong battalion of 
light-infantry being at Princeton, above me, I thought it most prudent to 
return the same evening, with the prisoners and the artillery we had taken. 
We found no stores of any consequence in the town. 

In justice to the officers and men, I must add, that their behavior upon 
this occasion reflects the highest honor upon them. The difficulty of pass- 
ing the river in a very severe night, and their march through a violent 
storm of hail and snow, did not in the least abate their ardor, — but, when 
they came to the charge, each seemed to vie with the other in pressing for- 
ward ; and were I to give a preference to any particular corps, I should do 
injustice to the other. 

Col. Baylor, my first aid-de-camp, will have the honor of delivering this 
to you ; and from him you may be made acquainted with many other par- 
ticulars. His spirited behavior upon every occasion, requires me to recom- 
mend him to your particular notice. 

The annexed account of the battle of Trenton was published by 
order of congress, who received it from the council of safety, as 
coming from " an officer of distinction in the army." It is here ex- 
tracted from the " Connecticut Journal," of Jan. 22, 1777. 

Head-quarters, Newtown, Bucks co., Dec. 27. 
It was determined, some days ago, that our army should pass over to Jersey, at three 
different places, and attack the enemy. Accordingly, about 2,500 men, and 20 brass 
field-pieces, with his excellency Gen. Washington at their head, and Maj. Gen. Sullivan 
and Gen. Greene in command of two divisions, passed over, on the night of Christmas, 
and about three o'clock, A. M., were on their march, by two routes, towards Trenton. 
The night was sleety and cold, and the roads so slippery that it was daybreak when we 
were two miles from Trenton. But happily the enemy were not apprized of our design, 
and our advanced parties were on their guard, at half a mile from the town, where Gen. 
Sullivan's and Gen. Greene's divisions came into the same road. Their guard gave 
our advanced parties several smart fires, as we drove them ; but we soon got two field- 
pieces at play, and several others in a short time ; and one of ou,r columns pushing down 
on the right, while the other advanced on the left into town. The enemy, consisting of 
about 1,500 Hessians, under Col. Rohl, formed, and made some smart fires from their 
musketry and six field-pieces ; but our people pressed from every quarter, and drove them 
from tbeir cannon. They retired towards a field, behind a piece of woods, up the creek 
from Trenton, and formed in two bodies, which I expected would have brought on a 
smart action from the troops, who had formed very near them ; but at that instant, as I 
came in full view of them, from the back of the wood, with his excellency Gen. Wash- 
ington, an officer informed him that one party had grounded their arms, and surrendered 
prisoners. 

The others soon followed their example, except a part which had got off, in the hazy 
weather, towards Princeton. A party of their lighthorse made oft", on our first appear- 
ance. Too much praise cannot be given to our officers and men, of every regiment, who 
seemed to vie with each other ; and, by their active and spirited behavior, they soon put 
an honorable issue to this glorious day. 

I was immediately sent oft*, with the prisoners, to McConkey's ferry, and have got 
about 750 safe in town, and a few miles from here, on this side of the ferry, viz : One 
lieutenant-colonel, two majors, four captains, seven lieutenants, and eight ensigns. We 
left Col. Rohl, the commandant, wounded, on his parole, and several other officers, and 



MERCER COUNTY. 295 

wounded men, at Trenton. We lost but two of our men, that I can hear of — a few 
wounded ; and one brave officer, Capt. Washington, who assisted in securing their ar- 
tillery, wounded in both hands. 

The annexed account of the battle of Trenton is from the " Penn- 
sylvania Journal," of 1781 : 

About eight o'clock in the morning, an attack was made on the piquet-guard of the 
enemy. It was commanded by a youth of eighteen, who fell in his retreat to the main 
body. At half-past eight the town was nearly surrounded, and all the avenues to it 
were seized, except the one left for Gen. Ewing to occupy. An accident here liked to 
have deprived the American army of the object of their enterprise. The commanding 
officer of one of the divisions sent word to Gen. Washington, just before they reached 
the town, that his ammunition had been wet by a shower of rain that had fallen that 
morning, and desired to know what he must do. Washington sent him word to "ad. 
vance with fixed bayonets." This laconic answer inspired the division wkh the firmness 
and courage of their leader. The whole body now moved onward, in sight of the ene- 
my. An awful silence reigned through every platoon. Each soldier stepped as if he 
carried the liberty of his country upon his single musket. The moment was a critical 
one. The attack was begun with artillery, under command of Col. (afterward Gen.) 
Knox. The infantry supported the artillery with firmness. The enemy were thrown 
into confusion, in every quarter. One regiment attempted to form, in an orchard, but 
were soon forced to fall back upon their main body. A company of them entered a 
stone house, which they defended with a field-piece, judiciously posted in the entry. 
Capt. (afterward Col.) Washington advanced to dislodge them, with a field-piece; but, 
finding his men exposed to a close and steady fire, he suddenly leaped from them, rushed 
into the house, seized the officer who had command of the gun, and claimed him pris- 
oner. His men followed him, and the whole company were made prisoners. The cap- 
tain received a ball in his hand, in entering the house. In the mean while, victory de- 
clared itself everywhere in favor of the American arms. 

The Philadelphia lighthorse distinguished themselves upon this occasion by their bravery. 
They were the more admired for their conduct, as it was the first time they had ever 
been in action. An anecdote is mentioned of Capt. Samuel Morris, of this corps, which, 
though it discovers his inexperience of war, did honor to his humanity. In advancing 
toward the town, he came up to the lieutenant, who had commanded the piquet-guard. 
He lay mortally wounded, and weltering in his blood, in the great road. The captain 
was touched with the sight, and called to Gen. Greene to know if any thing could be 
done for him. The general bade him push on, and not notice him. The captain was as 
much agitated with the order as he was affected with the scene before him ; and it was 
not until after the fortunate events of the morning were over, that he was convinced that 
his sympathy for a bleeding enemy was ill-timed. 

After having refreshed themselves, and rested a few hours in Trenton, the American 
army returned, with their prisoners and other trophies of victory, to the Pennsylvania 
side of the river, by the same way they came, with the loss only of three men, who per- 
ished by cold in recrossing the river — an event not to be wondered at, when we con- 
sider that many of them were half naked, and most of them barefooted. 

The following interesting account of the battle of Trenton is be- 
lieved to be the most particular and authentic yet given to the 
world. It is from No. 13 of the series of historical articles publish- 
ed in the State Gazette at Trenton, March 17, 1843. 

On Wednesday, the 25th of December, 1776, General Washing- 
ton, with his army, was on the west bank of the Delaware, en- 
camped near Taylorsville, then McKonkey's ferry, 8 miles above 
Trenton. The troops under General Dickinson were at Yardley- 
ville ; and detachments were encamped still further up the river. 
The boats on the river had all been secured when Gen. Washington 
had crossed with his army on the first of this month. The Penn- 
sylvania troops were in two bodies : one at Bristol under General 



296 MERCER COUNTY. 

Cadwallader, and the other at Morrisville, opposite Trenton, under 
General Ewing.* 

At this time the British under General Howe were stationed in 
detachments at Mount Holly, Black Horse, Burlington, and Borden- 
town ; and at Trenton there were three regiments of Hessians, 
amounting to about 1,500 men, and a troop of British lighthorse. 
Divisions of the British army were also at Princeton and New 
Brunswick. 

One part of the plan of Washington was to recross the Dela- 
ware with his army at McKonkey's ferry, in the night of the 25th 
of December, and for Gen. Ewing, with the part of the army under 
his command, to cross at or below Trenton — thus both might fall 
upon the enemy at the same time ; Ewing at the south, and General 
Washington at the north end of the town. 

At dusk the continental troops, commanded by General Wash- 
ington in person, amounting to 2,400 men, with 20 pieces of artil- 
lery, began to cross at McKonkey's ferry. The troops at Yard- 
leyville and the stations above, had that day assembled at this ferry. 
Among the prominent and active men who were employed in ferry- 
ing over the troops, were Uriah Slack, William Green, and David 
Laning. It was between 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning before 
all the artillery and troops were over and ready to march. Many 
of the men were very destitute as regarded clothing. The present 
Mr. George Muirheid, of Hopewell, informed the writer that he 
noticed one man, whose pantaloons were ragged, and who had on 
neither stockings nor shoes. The ground was covered with sleet 
and snow, which was falling ; although before that day there was 
no snow, or only a little sprinkling on the ground. Gen. Washing- 
ton, (who had sat in silence on a beehive, wrapt in his cloak, while 
his troops were crossing,) as they were about to march, enjoined 
upon all profound silence during their march to Trenton, and said 
to them, " / hope that you will all fight like men? 

General Washington wished to get twelve men who should be 
mounted on horseback, without arms or uniform, in plain farmers' 
habit, to ride before the army, to reconnoitre and get what infor- 
mation they could, with respect to the British army, their out- 
guards, &c. There were but three M T ho would volunteer for this 
service ; these were David Laning, of Trenton, and John Muirheid 
and John Guild, of Hopewell. The following persons were also 
guides and marched with the army, viz : Col. Joseph Phillips, Capt. 
Philip Phillips, and Adjt. Elias Phillips, of Maidenhead ; Joseph 
Inslee, Edon Burroughs, Stephen Burroughs, Ephraim Woolsey, and 
Henry Simmonds, of Hopewell ; and Capt. John Mott, Amos Scud- 
der, and William Green, of Trenton. 

The army marched with a quick step in a body from the river 
up the cross-road to the Bear Tavern, about a mile from the river 

* In Sparks's Life of Washington this officer is called Ewing ; in Marshall, Irvine ; 
and in Wilkinson, Irwing. 



MERCER COUNTY. 297 

The whole army marched down this road to the village of Bir- 
mingham, distant about 3\ miles. There they halted, examined 
their priming, and found it all wet. Capt. Mott, who had taken 
the precaution to wrap his handkerchief around the lock of his gun, 
found, notwithstanding, the priming was wet. " Well," says Gene- 
ral Sullivan, " we must then fight them with the bayonet." From 
Birmingham to Trenton, the distance by the River road and the 
Scotch road is nearly equal, being about 4| miles. 

The troops were formed in two divisions. One of them, com- 
manded by General Sullivan, marched down the River road. The 
other, commanded by General Washington, accompanied by Gene- 
rals Lord Stirling, Greene, Mercer, and Stevens, (with David Lan- 
ing and others for their guides,) filed off to the left, crossed over to 
the Scotch road, and went down this road till it enters the Penning- 
ton road, about a mile above Trenton. Scarcely a word was spoken 
from the time the troops left the ferry (except what passed between 
the officers and the guides) till they reached Trenton ; and with 
such stillness did the army move, that they were not discovered un- 
til they came upon the out-guard of the enemy, which was posted 
in the outskirt of the town, at or near the house of the Rev. Mr. 
Frazer,* when one of the sentries called to Laning,! who was a 
little in advance of the troops, and asked, Who is there 1 Laning 
replied, A friend. " A friend to whom ?" " A friend to Gen. Washing- 
ton." At this the guard fired and retreated.^ The American troops 
immediately returned their fire, and rushed upon them, and drove 
them into town. At the head of King-street, Captain T. Forrest 
opened a six-gun battery, under the immediate orders of General 
Washington, which commanded the street. Captain William Wash- 
ington, and Lieut. James Monroe, (afterward President of the Uni- 
ted States.) perceiving that the enemy were endeavoring to form a 
battery in King-street, near where the feeder crosses the street, 
rushed forward with the advance guard, drove the artillerists from 
their guns, and took from them two pieces, which they were in the 
act of firing. These officers were both wounded in this successful 
enterprise. A part of this division marched down Queen-street, 
and extended to the left so as to cut off the retreat of the enemy to- 
ward Princeton. 

* This was just after daybreak, according to the testimony of several persons who 
lived in the town, or in the neighborhood, at the time. 

t This Laning had, a few days before, been taken prisoner in the Scuddcr neighborhood, 
near the Delaware river, by a scouting party, and carried to Trenton, and confined in the 
house on Tucker's corner. Watching his opportunity, when there was a little commo- 
tion among the guard, he slipped out of the back door, sprang over a high board fence, 
and escaped to the house of .Stacy Potts, who took him in and concealed him that night. 
The next morning Laning, dressed in an old ragged coat, and flapped hat, put an axe 
under his arm, and went with his head down, limping along, and so passed in safety the 
enemy's sentries in the character of a wood-chopper ; but when he got where the Pen- 
nington and Scotch roads meet, looking in every direction, and seeing no person, he 
threw down his axe, and took to Dickinson's swamp, and so escaped from the enemy. 

I It is said that at the commencement of the engagement, when Washington, with 
his sword raised, was giving his orders, a musket-ball passed between his fingers, slight- 
ly grazing them. He only said, " That has passed by." 

38 



296 MERCER COUNTY. 

The division of the army which came down the River road under 
Gen. Sullivan, fell upon the advanced guard of the British at Ruth- 
erford's place, adjoining Col. Dickinson's, near the southwest part 
of the town, about the same time that Washington entered it at 
the north. 

Both divisions pushed forward, keeping up a running tire with 
lisrht-arms.* meeting with but little opposition until the enemy were 
d eastward in Second-st.. near the Presbyterian church, where 
there was some righting, the enemy having made a momentary 
stand : but rinding themselves hemmed in and overpowered, they 
laid down their arms on the field, between the Presbyterian church 
and Park-place, then called the old Iron Works. 

Gen. Rahl. who commanded the Hessians, and had his head- 
quarters at the house of .Stacy Potts, opposite Perry-st.. on the west 
side of Warren, (occupied for many years as a tavern.) was mor- 
tally wounded early in the engagement, being shot from his horse 
while exerting himself to form his dismayed and disordered troops. 
but where or by whom is not at present known by the writer. He 
has heard several statements on these subjects, but no two of them 
agree. When, supported by a rile of sergeants, he presented his 
sword to Gen. Washington, (whose countenance beamed with com- 
placency at the success of the day.) he was pale, bleeding, and 
covered with blood : and. in broken accents, he seemed to implore 
those attentions which the victor was well-disposed to bestow upon 
him. He was taken to his head-quarters. (Stacy Potts'.) where he 
died of his wounds. 

" The number of prisoners was 23 officers and SS6 private? ; 4 
stand of colors. 12 drums. 6 brass field-pieces, and 1,000 stand of 
arms and accoutrements, were the trophies of victory. The Brit- 
ish lighthorse. and 400 or 500 Hessians, escaped at the beginning 
of the battle, over the bridge across the Assunpink. at Trent's Mills, 
and fled to Bordentown. If Gen. Ewing. whose division of the 
army was opposite Trenton, had been able to cross the Delaware 
as contemplated, and take possession of the bridge on the Ass - 
pink, all the enemy that were in Trenton would have been cap- 
tured : but there was so much ice on the shores of the river, that 
it was impossible to get the artillery over." The Hessians lost 7 
officers, and 20 or 30 men killed : 24 of these were buried in one 
pit. in the Presbyterian burying-ground. by the American troops.t 

Immediately after the victory, which greatly revived the droop- 
ing spirits of the army, Gen. Washington commenced marching 



* A daughter of Mr. Stacy Potts was this morning at Miss Coxe's, opposite the Epis- 
copal church, when the firing commenced ; and as she was running to her father"s house 
a musket-ball struck her comb from her head, and slightly injured her head. 

- S its :er this battle, several skeletons and coffins were discovered, where the 

- - of the river washed the bank, at the southwest part of the town ; and many per- 
sons supposed that the Hessians killed in this engagement were buried there. But it is 
ascertained that the place mentioned was the ground where the soldiers and others, who 
- in the barracks and hospital at Whitehall, were buried. 



MERCER COUXTY. 299 

his prisoners up to the eight-mile (or McKonkey's) fern* ; and be- 
fore night, all were safely landed on the western shore of the Dela- 
ware. But Mr. Muirheid (mentioned above) said that Gen. W. 
would not suffer a man to cross, more than was necessary, until all 
the prisoners were over. The Americans lost 2 privates killed, and 
2 were frozen to death. The late Mr. Richard Scudder informed 
the writer, that the night after the taking of the Hessians, sev- 
eral of the American soldiers, worn down and poorly clad, and 
having suffered much from the cold, stayed at his father's house, 
which is about 2 miles below the ferry ; that several of them were 
very sick in the night, and that two or three died. Might not these 
have been the persons referred to in history as having frozen to 
death? 

The next day, the British that were at Princeton marched on to 
Trenton in pursuit of the American army, and went up the Scotch 
road as far as Mr. Benjamin Clark's, now Edward S. Mcllvain's, 
Esq., and inquired which route Gen. Washington had taken ; and 
being informed that he had gone with his prisoners up the River 
road, they compelled their son, John Clark, a lad of 12 years, to 
guide them across to Birmingham : (some of the American soldiers 
were at this time in Clark's house.) His mother, with true Spartan 
courage, unwilling to trust her son with the enemy, pursued the 
British and got him released. Soon after, the British, finding Wash- 
ington had crossed the Delaware, returned to Princeton. 



BATTLE OF ASSUXPINK. 

It has been a matter of surprise to many, that the Battle of As- 
sunpink. or Trenton bridge, should be passed over so lightly by most 
historians of the revolution. On the result of this action, appa- 
rently, in a great degree, was suspended the fate of American in- 
dependence. It is probable that more than twice the number of 
British troops were killed, than either at the battles of Trenton or 
Princeton. The first account of the action, here given, is from an 
officer present in the engagement. It was published in the " Con- 
necticut Journal," Jan. 22d, 1777. 

Immediately after the taking of the Hessians at Trenton, on the 26th ult., 
our army retreated over the Delaware, and remained there for several days, 
and then returned and took possession of Trenton, where they remained 
quiet until Thursday, the 2d inst. ; at which time, the enemy having col- 
lected a large force at Princeton, marched down in a body of 4,000 or 5,000, 
to attack our people at Trenton. Through Trenton there runs a small riv- 
er, over which there is a small bridge. Gen. Washington, aware of the 
enemy's approach, drew his army (about equal to the enemy) over that 
bridge, in order to have the advantage of the said river, and of the higher 
ground on the farther side. Not long before sunset, the enemy marched 
into Trenton ; and after reconnoitering our situation, drew up in solid column 
in order to force the aforesaid bridge, which they attempted to do with great 
vigor at three several times, and were as often broken by our artillery and 
obliged to retreat and give over the attempt, after suffering great loss, sup- 



300 MERCER COUNTY. 

posed at least one hundred and fifty killed. By this time, night came on, and 
Gen. Washington ordered fires to be kindled and everything disposed of for the 
night. But after all was quiet he ordered a silent retreat, drew off his army 
to the right, marched all night in a round-about road, and next morning ar- 
rived with his army at Princeton. All this was done without any know- 
ledge of the enemy, who, in the morning, were in the utmost confusion, not 
knowing which way our army had gone until the firing at Princeton gave 
them information. 

The following account of the battle of Assunpink is given as re- 
lated by an eye-witness, and published in the Princeton Whig, Nov. 
4th, 1842. 

When the army under Washington, in the year '76, retreated over the 
Delaware, I was with them. At that time there remained in Jersey only a 
small company of riflemen, hiding themselves between New Brunswick and 
Princeton. Doubtless, when Washington reached the Pennsylvania side of 
the river, he expected to be so reinforced as to enable him effectually to pre- 
vent the British from reaching Philadelphia. But in this he was disappoint- 
ed. Finding that he must achieve victory with what men he had, and so 
restore confidence to his countrymen, it was then that the daring plan was 
laid to recross the river, break the enemy's line of communication, threaten 
their depot at New Brunswick, and thus prevent their advancing to Phila- 
delphia ; which was only delayed until the river should be bridged by the 
ice. But Washington anticipated them. I was not with the troops who 
crossed to the capture of the Hessians. It was in the midst of a December 
storm, that I helped to re-establish the troops and prisoners on the Pennsyl- 
vania shore. The weather cleared cold, and in a few days we crossed on 
the ice to Trenton. Shortly afterward a thaw commenced which rendered 
the river impassable, and consequently the situation of the army extremely 
critical. 

In the morning of the day on which the battle of the Assunpink was 
fought, I, with several others, was detached under the command of Capt. 
Longstreet, with orders to collect as many men as we could in the country 
between Princeton, Cranbury, and Rhode Hall, and then unite ourselves 
with the company of riflemen who had remained in that neighborhood. We 
left Trenton by the nearest road to Princeton, and advanced nearly to the 
Shabbaeonk, (a small brook near Trenton,) when we were met by a little 
negro on horseback, galloping down the hill, who called to us that the 
British army was before us. One of our party ran a little way up the hill, 
and jumped upon the fence, from whence he beheld the British army, within 
less than half a mile of us. And now commenced a race for Trenton. We 
fortunately escaped capture ; yet the enemy were so near, that before we 
crossed the bridge over the Assunpink, some of our troops on the Trenton 
side of the creek, with a field-piece, motioned to us to get out of the street 
while they fired at the British at the upper end of it. Not being on duty, 
we had nothing to do but choose our position and view the battle. 

Washington's army was drawn up on the east side of the Assunpink, with 
its left on the Delaware river, and its right extending a considerable way up 
the mill-pond, along the face of the hill where the factories now stand. The 
troops were placed one above the other, so that they appeared to cover the 
whole slope from bottom to top, which brought a great many muskets within 
shot of the bridge. Within 70 or 80 yards of the bridge, and directly in 



MERCER COUNTY. 301 

front of, and in the road, as many pieces of artillery as could be managed 
were stationed. We took our station on the high ground behind the right, 
where we had a fair view of our line, as far as the curve of the hill would 
permit, the bridge and street beyond being in full view. The British did 
not delay the attack. They were formed in two columns, the one marching 
down Green-street to carry the bridge, and the other down Main-street to 
ford the creek, near where the lower bridge now stands. From the nature 
of the ground, and being on the left, this attack (simultaneous with the one 
on the bridge) I was not able to see. It was repelled ; and eye-witnesses 
say that the creek was nearly filled with their dead. The other column 
moved slowly down the street, with their choicest troops in front. When 
within about 60 yards of the bridge they raised a shout, and rushed to the 
charge. It was then that our men poured upon them from musketry and 
artillery a shower of bullets, under which however they continued to ad- 
vance, though their speed was diminished ; and as the column reached the 
bridge, it moved slower and slower until the head of it was gradually pressed 
nearly over, when our fire became so destructive that they broke their ranks 
and fled. It was then that our army raised a shout, and such a shout I have 
never since heard ; by what signal or word of command, I know not. The 
line was more than a mile in length, and from the nature of the ground the 
extremes were not in sight of each other, yet they shouted as one man. The 
British column halted instantly ; the officers restored the ranks, and again 
they rushed to the bridge ; and again was the shower of bullets poured upon 
them with redoubled fury. This time the column broke before it reached 
the centre of the bridge, and their retreat was again followed by the same 
hearty shout from our line. They returned the third time to the charge, 
but it was in vain. We shouted after them again, but they had enough of 
it. It is strange that no account of the loss of the English was ever pub- 
lished ; but from what I saw, it must have been great. 

"The readers of Marshall's Life of Washington will remember the 
peculiar and cordial welcome of the Father of his country at Tren- 
ton, 12 years after his memorable achievements there, while on his 
way from Mt. Vernon to the inauguration in New York. In addi- 
tion to the usual martial display, the ladies of the place erected a 
rich rural arch over the Assunpink, with appropriate devices, and 
bearing this inscription : 

The Defender of the Mothers 

will be the 
Protector of the Daughters. 

"The General was met here by a company of matrons leading: 
their daughters dressed in white, with baskets of flowers, and sing- 
ing these lines, written for the occasion by Gov. Howell : 

Virgins fair and matrons grave, 
Those thy conquering arms did save, 



Welcome, mighty Chief, once more, 
Welcome to this grateful shore ; 
Now no mercenary foe 
Aims again the fatal blow, 
Aims at thee the fatal blow. 



Build for thee triumphal bowers : 
Strew, ye fair, his way with flowers, 
Strew your Hero's way with flowers ; 



and at the last line the flowers were strewed before him. On pass- 
ing the arch, as the choir began the song, the general turned his 
horse's head toward them, took off his hat, and listened, it is said, 



302 MERCER COUNTY. 

with the deepest emotion. After receiving the salutations of the 
citizens, he handed the following note to the Rev. J. F. Armstrong ; 
for the publication of which we are indebted to the Trenton State 
Gazette. 

General Washington cannot leave this place without expressing his acknowledg- 
ment to the matrons and young ladies who received him in so novel and grateful a man- 
ner at the triumphal arch in Trenton, and for the exquisite sensation he experienced in that 
affecting moment. The astonishing contrast between his former and actual situation at 
the same spot, the elegant taste with which it was adorned for the present occasion, and 
the innocent appearance of the white-robed choir who met him with the gratulatory song, 
have made such impressions upon his remembrance as, he assures them, will never.be 
effaced. 

Trenton, April 21st, 1789. 

" This note, brief and graceful, depicting most vividly the whole 
scene and its impressions, was read to the ladies of Trenton, called 
together for the purpose, at the house of Judge Smith. It was then 
deposited in the hands of Mrs. Smith. At the death of the Judge 
it passed into the hands of his adopted daughter, Miss Lydia lmlay, 
who preserved it with the care due to its origin and associations, 
until shortly before her death, when she gave it, as a valued lega- 
cy, to the late Chief-justice Ewing. By his care it was placed in 
a handsome frame, and it is now preserved by his family as a most 
precious relic. 

" The arch was preserved on the premises of the Misses Barnes, in 
Warren-st., near the Episcopal church, until 1824, when it was 
placed in front of the state-house to grace the reception of Gen. 
Lafayette, on his way to the assembly-room, where he was ad- 
dressed by the mayor, Robert McNeely, Esq., and exchanged con- 
gratulations with the citizens. The remains of the arch are now 
in the possession of Dr. Francis A. Ewing, of this city. Mr. Ben- 
jamin A. Disbrow has made several elegant boxes and other small 
articles, which are inlaid from a part of the wood of the arch." 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
Presbyterian and Episcopal graveyards : — 

In memory of the Rev. David Cowell, born in Dorchester, (Massachusetts,) 1704; 
graduated in Harvard College, Cambridge, N. E., 1732; ordained at Trenton, 1736 ; 
died the 1st December, setatis 56, 1760. A man of penetrating wit, solid judgment, 
strong memory, yet of great modesty, piety, and benevolence. 

Beneath this stone lies the body of the Rev. Elihu Spencer, D. D., pastor of the 
Presbyterian church in Trenton, and one of the trustees of the College of New Jersey, 
who departed this life on the 27th of Dec, 1784, in the 64th year of his age. Possessed 
of fine genius, of great vivacity, and of eminent and active piety, his merits as a minis- 
ter, and as a man, stand above the reach of flattery. Having long edified the church by 
his talents and example, and finished his course with joy, he fell asleep full of faith, and 
waiting for the hope of all saints. 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. James Francis Armstrong, 30 years pastor of the 
church at Trenton, in union with the church at Maidenhead. Born in Maryland, of 
pious parents, he received the elements of his classical education under the Rev. John 
Blair, finished his collegiate studies in the College of New Jersey, under the Rev. Dr. 
Witherspoon, and was licensed to preach the gospel in the year 1777. An ardent patriot, 
he served through the War of Independence as chaplain. In 1790, he was chosen a 
trustee of the College of New Jersey. A warm and constant friend, a devout Christian, 



MERCER COUNTY. 303 

a tender husband and parent, steady in his attendance on the judicatories of the church. 
Throughout life, he was distinguished as a fervent and affectionate minister of the gos. 
■pel, and resigned his soul to his Creator and Redeemer, on the 19th of January, 1816. 
" Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Amen ! even so come, Lord Jesus. 

Sacred to the memory of Gen. John Beatty, bom Dec. 10th, 1749, died May 30th, 
1826. Educated as a physician, he early became distinguished for benevolence, assi- 
duity, and skill. In the War of Independence, in important military stations, he faith- 
fully served his country. By the public voice, he was called to the discharge of eminent 
civil offices. In the state and national legislature repeatedly a representative, and al- 
ways active and influential. For many years, a ruling elder of this church. In every 
walk of life, amiable, honorable, and useful. He crowned the virtues of the man, the 
patriotism of the soldier, and the sagacity of the statesman, by the pure piety and sin- 
cere religion of the devout and humble Christian. 

Under this marble rest the mortal remains of Charles Ewing, LL. D., Chief-justice 
of the state of New Jersey. In intellect, vigorous and discriminating ; in industry, as- 
siduous and persevering ; in integrity, pure and incorruptible ; in manners, affable, dig- 
nified, and polished ; in morals, spotless. A profound jurist and upright magistrate ; an 
accomplished scholar and patron of literature and science ; the advocate and supporter 
of benevolent institutions, he won, in an eminent degree, the respect, love, and confidence 
of his fellow-citizens. Happy in his domestic relations, home was the theatre of his 
most endearing virtues, and the sphere in which he loved to move. He reverenced the 
doctrines, and practised the precepts of the Christian religion. In the vigor of his men- 
tal and bodily powers, surrounded by blessings, cheered by the approbation of his fellow- 
men, with an extended prospect of service and usefulness before him, he was attacked 
with a violent disease, which suddenly terminated his life on the 5th day of August, A. D. 
1832, in the 53d year of his age. 

This stone covers the remains of Dr. Nicholas Belleville, born and educated in 
France. For 50 years, an inhabitant of this city. A patriot, warmly attached to the 
principles of liberty ; a physician, eminently learned and successful ; a man of scrupu- 
lous and unblemished integrity. On the 17th day of Dec, 1831, at the age of 79 years r 
he closed a life of honor and usefulness, by all respected, esteemed, and lamented. 

Sacred to the memory of the Hon. David Brearly, Lieutenant-colonel in the army of 
the United States, a member of the state and federal conventions, nine years Chief-jus- 
tice of New Jersey. As a soldier, he was cool, determined, and brave ; as a judge, in- 
telligent and upright ; as a citizen, an early, decided, and faithful patriot ; in private and 
social life, irreproachable. He died much regretted 16th Aug., 1790, in the 45th year of 
his age. 

In memory of the Rev. William Frazer, of St. Michael's church, Trenton, and St. 
Andrew's, Amwell, who departed this life the 6th day of July, 1795, aged 52 years. If 
gentle and inoffensive manners, benevolence, and meekness, can secure the good-will of 
man, as certainly as sincere piety will recommend to the favor of God, then has Frazer 
joined the inhabitants of heaven, and not left an enemy on earth. 

In memory of Henry Waddell, D. D., rector of St. Michael's church, Trenton, who 
departed this life 20th Jan., 1811, in the 66th year of his age. A faithful and affection- 
ate pastor, a sincere and zealous Christian, an amiable and honest man : his body is bu- 
ried in peace, but his soul shall live for evermore. 

Sacred to the memory of Gen. Jonathan Rhea, who died Feb. 3d, 1815, aged 56 years, 
10 mo., 22 days. Early distinguished as a firm defender of his country, in our former 
eventful contest with Great Britain, Gen. Rhea at an early age embarked in the military 
service of the United States, and served with zeal and fidelity during the whole revolu- 
tionary war, as an officer in the New Jersey line of the continental army. At the return 
of peace, he practised many years at the bar of this state, where his integrity and sound 
judgment were highly esteemed and respected. To those who had the happiness of be- 
ing connected with him, by the tender ties of domestic life, he was endeared by a most 
exemplary performance in the interesting scenes portrayed in the character of father, hus- 
band, master, and friend. We have hope to beheve that, from the toilsome vicissitudes 



304 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

of this life, he has winged his flight to enjoy, in the mansions of eternal rest, the rewards 
prepared for the righteous. 

He loved his friends with such a warmth of heart, 
So dear of interest, so devoid of art, 
Such generous freedom, such unshaken zeal, 
No words can speak it, Dm our tongues can tell. 

Sacred to the memory of Gen. Zachariah Rossell, who was born in Mount Holly, 
Nov. 14th, A. D. 1788, and died in the city of Trenton, July 21st, 1842. Early distin- 
guished by virtuous patriotism, he entered the American army at the commencement of 
the war with Great Britain, 1812. Having served his country gallantly and faithfully, 
he retired to private life when peace was declared. He was soon after elected to the of- 
fice of clerk of the supreme court of New Jersey, the duties of which be discharged with 
singular fidelity till his death. The steadfast friend to the unfortunate, the benevolent 
and enterprising citizen, the affectionate husband and fond parent, none have lived more 
respected, or died more lamented. " So teach us to number our days that we may ap- 
ply our hearts to wisdom." 



WEST WINDSOR. 

West Windsor is 9 m. long, with an average breadth of 5 m. ; 
bounded NW. by Princeton, NE. by South Brunswick, Middlesex 
co., SE. by East Windsor, and W. by Hamilton and Lawrence. 
The railroad from Jersey City to Camden, and the Delaware and 
Raritan canal, pass through the northern part of the township. Its 
surface is generally level, soil well cultivated, and produces abun- 
dantly grain and grass. It has 2 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. $6,620 ; 3 schools, 87 scholars. Pop. 1,536. 

Edinburg, Williamsburg, Clarks Store, and Dutch Neck, are 
localities in the township ; at the latter is a Presbyterian church. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

Middlesex county was first formed in 1682, since which its boun- 
daries have undergone considerable alteration. It is about 24 miles 
long, 12 broad, and is bounded N. by Essex co. ; E. by Staten Isl- 
and sound and Raritan bay ; SE. by Monmouth co. ; SW. by 
Mercer co., and W. by Somerset co. It is watered by Raritan river 
and its tributaries. The surface is level, and the soil varies from 
light sand to heavy clay, and in many places is susceptible of the 
highest cultivation. Lime has been advantageously used as a ma- 
nure within the last five years. Large quantities of pine and oak 
wood have been cut and transported to the New York market from 
the SE. part of the county. The railroad from Jersey City to Bor- 
dentown, and the Camden and Amboy railroad, pass through the 
county ; the Delaware and Raritan canal commences in the coun 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



305 



ty, and leaves it on the western boundary. It is divided into seven 

townships, viz : 

Perth Amboy, North Brunswick, Monroe, Wsodbridge, 
South Amboy, South Brunswick, Piscataway. 
The population in 1840, was 21,894. 



PERTH AMBOY. 

Perth Amboy township and city is situated at the head of Raritan 
bay, at the confluence of Raritan river and Staten Island sound. 
The township comprises 2,577 acres of land. Population 1,303. 
The city was incorporated under the proprietary and royal govern- 
ments ; its present charter, embracing the provisions of the prior 
ones, was granted in 1784. 




View of Perth Amboy from Staten Island. 

The above is an eastern view of Perth Amboy City, as seen from 
Staten Island. The Presbyterian church and the Academy appear 
on the left, and the Baptist church on the right of the engraving. 
The Episcopal church, a brick structure, is beautifully situated on 
the bank rising from the bay, in the southern part of the place : 
the Methodist church is in the northern part. There are in the place 
u male academy, in high repute; a large lock-factory, a stone ware 
pottery, and a fire-brick manufactory ; the Lehigh Coal company 
have an extensive depot for coal. The city or village consists of 
about 140 dwellings, situated 14 miles from Sandy Hook, 25 from 
New York, 10 from New Brunswick, and 30 from Trenton. The 
port or harbor is considered one of the best on the continent, and is 
easily approached from the sea. Perth Amboy City is a port ot 
entry, and its collection district comprehends all that part of East 
New Jersey south of Elizabethtown, excepting the district of Little 

39 



306 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

Egg Harbor : New Brunswick and Middletown Point are ports of 
delivery only. 

The favorable site of Perth Amboy for a town was early noticed 
by the agents of the East Jersey proprietors. The proprietors state 
in their published account, that it is their intention, " if the Lord 
permit, with all convenient speed to erect and build one principal 
town, which, by reason of situation, must in all probability be the 
most considerable for merchandise, trade, and fishing in those parts. 
It is designed to be placed on a neck or point of rich land called 
Aivho Point, lying on Raritan river, and pointing to Sandy Hook 
bay, and near adjacent to the place where ships in that great har- 
bor commonly ride at anchor." They follow up their description 
with their proposals for building the town, commencing with an as- 
sertion that "Ambo Point is a sweet, wholesome and delightful place.'' 

" The selection of the site for a town was probably the work of Gov. Carteret. The 
spot was reserved by him for the proprietors on granting the lands to the Woodbridge as- 
sociates in 1669, in lieu of the seventh part of each tract, which according to the con- 
cession was to be allotted to them This point, when first men- 
tioned in the East Jersey records, bears the name of Ompoge, probably a generic appel- 
lation ; and we are warranted in believing Ambo, by which it was designated at the 
time of settlement, to be a corruption of the first. It was the intention of the proprietors 
to have called their town Perth, in compliment to the Earl of Perth, one of their asso- 
ciates, and it was so called for some time, but from speaking of the location, and using 
the Indian word Ambo, (gradually corrupted to Amboy,) instead of the English one, 
Point, ' Perth Amboy' became at last the name of the place." 

" The Point at this period must have been truly beautiful. The grass is represented 
as growing luxuriantly, the forest trees as distributed in groups, diversifying the land 
scape with light and shade, and all nature wearing the fresh aspect of a new creation. 
William Penn, on taking a view of the land, ' said he had never seen such before in his 
life.' In the proprietors' proposals for building the town, they state their intention, by 
God's assistance, to erect each a house upon the Point, which they promised should 
' stand in an orderly manner, according to the best and most convenient model.' Sam- 
uel Groome, one of the proprietaries and surveyor-general, made an examination of the 
harbor, and sounded the channel all the way to Sandy Hook, finding ' in no place,' he 
says in his report, 'less than three fathom at high water, in ordinary tides four or five 
or six fathom, except in one place.' He laid out the contemplated city into one hundred 
and fifty lots, sent home a draught of it, and indulged in many pleasing anticipations of 
the growth and prosperity of the place, which he did not live to realize, as he died in 
1683, leaving on the stocks unfinished the first vessel of any size built in East Jersey. 
In a letter of Groome's, dated August, 1683, we are told that three of the proprietors' 
houses were completed, and others ready to go up ; they were ' ten feet betwixt joint and 
joint,' having a double chimney made of sticks and clay. He complains that ' workmen 
are scarce, and many of them are base.' The proprietors gave particular direction that 
the houses should not be ' crowded upon one another,' which is supposed to be the reason 
why we find them so scattered at the present day." 

The growth of Amboy, although perhaps not rapid, was very 
considerable under the fostering care of the proprietors. They di- 
rected the deputy-governor to reside in the place, establish courts, 
&c. in 1684, making it the seat of government. On the 2d of Jan. 
1683, they say, in their instructions to Lawrie, " It is not to be for- 
gotten that, as soon as can be, weekly markets and fairs at fit sea- 
sons be appointed at Perth-town ;" and accordingly, at the first 
session of the assembly at Amboy, in 1686, Wednesday in each week 
was made the market-day, and two fairs annually were appointed 
to be held. Notwithstanding the efforts of the proprietors to pre- 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 307 

vent it, New York, by her superior location, was enabled to over- 
shadow her sister, " New Perth," in commercial importance. Being 
the seat of government, however, some considerable foreign com- 
merce continued to be carried on till the revolution. 

The change of the proprietary to the royal government of the 
province, appears to have had but little effect upon Amboy. It 
continued to send two members to the general assembly, in addi- 
tion to those from the county, as it had done under the proprietors, 
and shared with Burlington the meetings of the assembly and the 
presence of the chief officers. Each governor, on his arrival, would 
march in procession to the courthouse, and, in the presence of the 
assembled people, proclaim his commission from the sovereign of 
England, receive the congratulations of the authorities, &c. 

The first city charter was obtained in August, 1718, during the 
administration of Gov. Robert Hunter, — William Eier being ap- 
pointed Mayor, and Jas. Alexander, (the father of Lord Stirling, 
an officer in the revolution,) Recorder, until an election should be 
held. Previous to that time no local government, save the " Courts 
of Common Right," as they were called, seems to have existed. 

The Church of England was the first established here. The proprietors, by a reso- 
lution passed 21st Feb. 1698, ordered one of their houses, built in 1685, (one stone of 
which, bearing the date, is inserted in the rear wall of the present St. Peter's church,) 
together with the lot on which it stood, a short distance south of the entrance to the 
property of Andrew Bell, Esq., to be given for the use of a church, — the first minister of 
which was the Rev. Edward Perthuck, sent over to the province at that time by the 
Bishop of London, at the solicitation of the proprietors. How long Mr. Perthuck re- 
mained here is not known. After his retirement, the congregation was visited from time 
to time by different missionaries ; and among them, Humphries (in his Hist. Acct. of 
the " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts") mentions the Rev. 
Mr. Brook. This energetic clergyman was stationed at Elizabethtown, but extended 
his labors over a section of country more than 50 miles in extent, — preaching at Eliza- 
bethtown, Rahway, Amboy, Cheesequakes, Piscataway, Rocky Hill, and expounding 
and catechising 14 times a month besides. His labors were highly beneficial, but, it is 
supposed, occasioned his death in the midst of his arduous duties. He received from the 
society .£60 per annum. 

The Rev. Mr. Halliday was established here from 1711 to 1719, when again mis- 
sionaries officiated until 1723, during which year the Rev. Win. Skinner became the rec- 
tor of the church, and so continued until his death in 1758. It was not until after Mr. 
Skinner's arrival that the present church edifice was fully completed in its original form 
and size. The collection of materials had commenced as early as 1705 ; and in 1718, 
the congregation received a charter from the king, by his representative, Gov. Hunter. 
Although during the revolution the church was turned into a stable, and the premises 
desecrated in every possible way, by the British troops, yet the records were saved. 

The burial-place now attached to the Presbyterian church, was 
set apart originally as a public ground forever ; and the first inti- 
mation of a Presbyterian congregation is in a petition to the proprie- 
tors from sundry individuals, in July, 1731, stating that their parents, 
wives, or children, had been buried in the ground mentioned, and 
praying that it might be transferred to them to erect a meeting- 
house thereon. Permission having been obtained, it is supposed a 
house of worship was erected soon after, — which was standing just 
previous to the revolution, in a very dilapidated state. We have 
not been able to ascertain who were the first settled ministers. 



308 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

The Courthouse Market, the present Sunday-school of St. Peter's 
church, (formerly the office of the secretary of the province,) the 
barracks, and many private houses, are still abiding witnesses of 
royal authority and munificence. The barracks were built in 1758 
and '59, and were first occupied, it is thought, by the troops return- 
ing from the siege of Havana, in 1761. A regiment of British 
troops were generally stationed here. Perth Amboy was the resi- 
dence of Gov. Franklin, who was made prisoner by the " Rebels," 
so called, and sent to Connecticut for safe-keeping. William Dun- 
lap, Esq., a painter and author of some celebrity, was a native of 
this place. The following graphic description relative to " olden 
times," is taken from his own memoirs in his " History of the Arts 
of Design :" 

I was born in the city of Perth Amboy and province of New Jersey. My father, 
Samuel Dunlap, was a native of the north of Ireland, and son of a merchant of Lon- 
donderry. In early youth he was devoted to the army, and bore the colors of the 47th 
regiment, " Wolfe's own," on the plains of Abraham. He was borne wounded from the 
field on which his commander triumphed and died. After the French war, Samuel Dun- 
lap, then a lieutenant in the 47th regiment, and stationed at Perth Amboy, married Mar- 
garet Sargent, of that place, and retired from the profession of a soldier, to the quiet of 
a country town and country store. The 19th of Feb., 1766, is registered as the date of 
my birth, and being an only child, the anniversary of the important day was duly cele- 
brated by my indulgent parents. Education I had none, according to the usual accepta- 
tion of the word, owing to circumstances to be mentioned ; and much of what is to the 
child most essential education, was essentially bad. Holding negroes in slavery was, 
in those days, the common practice, and the voices of those who protested against the 
evil were not heard. Every house in my native place where any servants were to be 
seen, swarmed with black slaves — every house save one, hereafter to be mentioned. My 
father's kitchen had several families of them, of all ages, and all born in the family of 
my mother except one, who was called a new negro, and had his face tattooed — his lan- 
guage was scarcely intelligible, though he had been long in the country, and was an old 
man. These blacks indulged me of course, and I sought the kitchen as the place where 
I found playmates, (being an only child,) and the place where I found amusement suit- 
ed to, and forming my taste, in the mirth and games of the negroes, and the variety of 
visitors of the black race who frequented the place. This may be considered as my first 
school. Such is the school of many a one even now, in those states where the evil of 
slavery continues. The infant is taught to tyrannize — the boy is taught to despise la- 
bor — the mind of the child is contaminated by hearing and seeing that which, perhaps, 
is not understood at the time, but remains with the memory. This medley of kitchen 
associates was increased during a part of the war of our revolution by soldiers, who 
found their mess-fare improved by visiting the negroes, and by servants of officers bil- 
leted on the house. 

********** 

Perth Amboy being now in the possession of the British, my father returned with hia 
family to his house, and I saw in my native town, particularly after the affairs of Prince- 
ton and Trenton, all the varieties and abominations of a crowded camp and garrison. 
An army who had so recently passed in triumph from the sea to the banks of the Dela- 
ware, and chosen their winter-quarters at their pleasure, were now driven in, and crowd- 
ed upon a point of land washed by the Atlantic, and defended by the guns of the ships 
which had borne them to the shore as the chastisers of rebellion. 

I have elsewhere compared the scenes I now witnessed, to the dramatic scenes of 
Wallenstein , s Lager. Here were centred, in addition to those cantoned at the place, 
all those drawn in from the Delaware, Princeton and Brunswick ; and the flower and 
pick of the army, English, Scotch, and German, who had at this time been brought in 
from Rhode Island. Here was to be seen a party of the 42d Highlanders, in national 
costume, and there a regiment of Hessians, their dress and arms a perfect contrast to the 
first. The slaves of Anspach and Waldeck were there — the first sombre as night, the 
second gaudy as noon. Here dashed by a party of the 17th dragoons, and there scamp- 
ered a party of Yagers. The trim, neat, and graceful English grenadier, the careless 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY- 309 

and half-savage Highlander, with his flowing robes and naked knees, and the immovably 
stiff German, could hardly be taken for parts of one army. Here might be seen soldiers 
driving in cattle, and others guarding wagons loaded with household furniture, instead 
of the hay and oats they had been sent for. 

The landing of the grenadiers and light-infantry from the ships which transported the 
troops from Rhode Island ; their proud march into the hostile neighborhood, to gather the 
produce of the farmer for the garrison ; the sound of the musketry, which soon rolled 
back upon us ; the return of the disabled veterans who could retrace their steps ; and 
the heavy march of the discomfited troops, with their wagons of groaning wounded, in 
the evening, are all impressed on my mind as pictures of the evils and the soul-stirring 
scenes of war. 

These lessons, and others more disgusting — the flogging of English heroes, and thump, 
ing and caning of German ; the brutal licentiousness, which even my tender years could 
not avoid seeing in all around, and the increased disorders among my father's negroes, 
from mingling with the servants of officers, — were my sources of instruction in the win- 
ter of 1776-7. 

The following inscriptions are from monuments in the graveyard 
of St. Peter's church : — 

Sub spe beatae resurrectionis hie reponitur quod in THOMA GORDON mortale reper- 
tum est qui familia prisca de Pitlurgi in Scotia ortus prosapia si fas esset potuit gloriari 
tamen illi non defuit quo jure gloriaretur nam a secretis hujus provincial reipublicae 
emolumentum ex animo respiciens senatui quoad potuit optime consuluit bonis gratus 
necessariis charus numinis eterni verus cultor vixit volens et decessit lubens 28 avo Die 
Aprilis Anno Domini 1722 do aetatis vero 70 in memoriam cujus uxor mosrens quas hie 
etiam condi expetit hoc qualecunque poni curavit vixit dum voluit dum fata volebant sic 
nee vita gravis mors nee acerba fuit. 

In memory of the Rev. Robert McKean, M. A., practitioner in physic, &c, and mis- 
sionary from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to the city 
of Perth Amboy, who was born July 13th, 1732, N. S., and died October 17th, 1767. 
An unshaken friend, an agreeable companion, a rational divine, a skilful physician, and, 
in every relation of life, a truly benevolent and honest man. Fraternal love hath erected 
this monument. 



SOUTH AMBOY. 

South Amboy is about 10 miles long, 6 wide ; and is bounded N. 
by Raritan river, NE. by Raritan bay, SE. by Freehold and Mid- 
dletown, (Monmouth county,) SW. by Monroe, and W. by North 
Brunswick. Its surface is level, soil sandy, and a portion of the face 
of the country covered with pine and oak timber. The chief source 
of wealth to the township has been its wood. There are in the 
township 1 pottery, 1 paper-factory, 1 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $24,100 ; 6 schools, 198 scholars. Pop. 1,825. 

The village of South Amboy, on a safe and deep harbor on Rar- 
itan bay, at the mouth of Raritan river, 12 miles below New 
Brunswick, contains an academy, and about 25 dwellings. The 
Camden and Amboy railroad terminates at this place. Stone-ware 
is extensively made, near the village, from clay of a superior qual- 
ity, found in the vicinity. Old Bridge, on the South river, a branch 
of the Raritan, and on the line of the Camden and Amboy railroad, 
7 miles SW. of South Amboy, contains about 35 dwellings. Large 
quantities of pine and oak wood are sent to New York from here. 
At the head of Cheesequake creek is Jacksonville, where there is a 
Baptist and a Methodist church, and about 15 dwellings. 



310 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

NORTH BRUNSWICK. 

North Brunswick is about 8 miles long, 7 broad ; bounded N. by 
Raritan river, (separating it from Piscataway,) E. by South Amboy, 
S. by South Brunswick and Monroe, and W. by Franklin, (Somer- 
set co.) The township contains 79 stores, 1 flouring-m., 2 grist-m., 
1 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $103,600; 18 schools, 686 scholars. 
Pop. 5,860. 

Washington is a village, 4 miles SE. of New Brunswick, at the 
confluence of the South river with the Raritan. It contains about 
50 dwellings, and in summer steamers ply between there and New 
York, with the produce of the country. 

New Brunswick, city, and capital of Middlesex co., is situated on 
the western bank of the Raritan, about 14 miles from its mouth, at 
Amboy, 29 miles SW. from New York, and 26 NE. from Trenton. 
The city was incorporated in 1784, and lies partly in North Bruns- 
wick, and partly in Franklin, (Somerset co. ;) Albany-st. forming 
the dividing line. The streets immediately on the river are narrow, 
and the ground low ; but on leaving it the ground rises rapidly. 
In the upper part of the city they are wide, and there are many 
fine buildings. The city contains a courthouse, jail, and 8 churches, 
viz. 1 Dutch Reformed, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, 1 
Methodist, 1 Protestant Methodist, 1 colored Methodist, and 1 Cath- 
olic ; 2 female seminaries, 1 bank , 120 stores, 800 dwellings, and 
8,693 inhabitants. The Delaware and Raritan canal commences 
here, extending 42 miles, to Bordentown ; is 75 feet wide, and 7 
feet deep, admitting the passage of sloops of from 75 to 150 tons 
burden. The Delaware and Raritan Co. was incorporated in 1830, 
and completed their canal, with a feeder along the Delaware, 23 
miles long, at an expense of about $2,500,000. There are two 
bridges over the Raritan, at New Brunswick — one a toll-bridge, 
now dilapidated, and not used, about 1,000 feet long, which was 
built by a company, in 1811, at an expense of $86,687; the other 
the railroad bridge, over which the New Jersey railroad passes 
through the city, forming a part of the chain of railroads from New 
York to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. 

The annexed is an engraving of Rutgers' college, at New Bruns- 
wick. It is constructed of dark-red freestone, and was completed 
in 1811. It stands on a commanding eminence, on a site presented 
to the college by the Hon. James Parker, of Amboy. This institu- 
tion was chartered by George III., in 1770, and was named Queen's 
College, in honor of his consort ; but, for want of necessary funds, 
did not go into operation until 1781. It began and continued un- 
der the instruction of tutors, and degrees were conferred by the 
board of trustees, until 1786, when the Rev. J. R. Hardenbergh 
was elected the first president. Dr. Hardenbergh died in 1790, 
and in 1795 the college exercises were discontinued. The institu- 
tion remained in this state until 1809, when a professor of mathe- 
matics and a teacher of moral philosophy were appointed, and its 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



311 



exercises resumed. In 1810 a union was formed between the trus- 
tees and the general synod of the Reformed Dutch church, and Dr. 
J. H. Livingston, professor in the Theological Seminary, was ap- 
pointed president of the college, and Dr. J. Condict vice-president. 




Rutgers' College, New Brunswick. 

The institution, however, languished ; and in 1816 its regular in- 
structions were again suspended. During this and the former sus- 
pension, the grammar-school still continued in successful operation, 
under the supervision of the college trustees! 

In 1825, the college-edifice was purchased by the general synod, 
and, at the request of the trustees, the legislature of the state 
changed the name from Queen's to Rutgers' college, in honor of 
Col. Henry Rutgers, one of its distinguished benefactors. The in- 
stitution was now revived under the patronage of the synod, and 
so united to their theological seminary that the professors of the 
latter were also professors of the former. The Rev. Philip Mille- 
doler, D. D., was at this time appointed president. In 1840 Dr. 
Milledoler resigned the office of president, and was succeeded in 
the office, the same year, by Abraham B. Hasbrouck, LL. D. 

At the close (says Gordon's Gazetteer) of the 17th century, the 
place where the city now stands was covered with woods, and 
called, after the name of its proprietor, " Pn'gmore's Swamp." The 
first inhabitant, of whom any account is preserved, was one Daniel 
Cooper, who resided where the post-road crossed the river, and 
kept the ferry, which afterward, in 1713, when the county line 
was drawn, was called Inian's Ferry. This ferry was granted by 
the proprietors, 2d Nov. 1697, for the lives of Inian and wife, and 
the survivor, at a rent of five shillings sterling per annum. One 
of the first houses is said to be still standing, at the foot of Town- 
lane ; and some other buildings, erected at an early period, may 
be distinguished by their antique structure, in Burnet and Albany 
sts. The first inhabitants, of European origin, were from Long 
Island. About 1730, several Dutch families emigrated from Alba- 
ny, bringing with them their building materials, in imitation of 
their ancestors, who imported their bricks, tiles, &c., from Holland. 



312 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

Some of them built their houses upon the present post-road, which 
thence acquired the name of Albany-st. ; though originally it was 
called French-st., in honor of Philip French, Esq., who held a large 
tract of land on the north side of it. About this time the name 
of New Brunswick was given to the place, which had, hitherto, 
been distinguished as " The River." 



Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who visited this country about a 
hundred years since, has left us in his Travels some interesting facts 
relating to New Brunswick. He says — 

This morning [October 29, 1748] we proceeded on our journey [from Princeton.] The 
country was pretty well peopled : however, there were great woods in many places ; they 
all consisted of deciduous trees, and I did not perceive a single tree of the fir kind until 
I came to New Brunswick. The ground was level, and did not seem to be everywhere 
of the richest kind. In some places it had hillocks, losing themselves almost impercep- 
tibly in the plains, which were commonly crossed by a rivulet. Almost near every farm- 
house were great orchards. The houses were commonly built of timber, and at some 
distance, by themselves, stood the ovens for baking, consisting commonly of clay. 

On a hill, covered with trees, and called Rock hill, I saw several pieces of stone or 
rock, so big that they would have required three men to roll them down. But, besides 
these, there were few great stones in the country ; for most of those which we saw, could 
easily be lifted up by a single man. 

About noon, we arrived at New Brunswick, a pretty little town, in the province of 
New Jersey, in a valley on the west side of the river Raritan ; on account of its low 
situation it cannot be seen (coming from Pennsylvania) before you get to the top of the 
hill, which is quite close up to it. The town extends north and south along the river. 
The German inhabitants have two churches, one of stone and the other of wood. The 
English church is of the latter kind ; but the Presbyterians were building one of stone. 
The town-house, likewise, makes a pretty good appearance. Some of the other houses are 
built of bricks, but most of them are cither made wholly of wood, or of bricks and wood ; the 
wooden houses are not made of strong timber, but merely of boards or planks, which are 
within joined by laths. Such houses as consist of both wood and bricks, have only the 
wall toward the street of bricks, all the other sides being merely of planks. This pecu- 
liar kind of ostentation would easily lead a traveller, who passes through the town in haste, 
to believe that most of the houses are built of bricks. The houses were covered with 
shingles ; before each door there was an elevation, to which you ascend by some steps 
from the street ; it resembled a small balcony, and had some benches on both sides, on 
which the people sat in the evening, in order to enjoy the fresh air, and to have the 
pleasure of viewing those who passed by. The town has only one street lengthwise, 
and at its northern extremity there is a street across ; both of these are of a considerable 
length 

One of the streets is almost entirely inhabited by Dutchmen, who came hither from 
Albany, and for that reason they call it Albany-street. These Dutch people only keep com- 
pany among themselves, and seldom or never go amongst the other inhabitants, living 
as it were separate from them. 

. . . The greater part of its [New Brunswick's] trade is to New York, which is about 
40 English miles distant ; to that place they send corn, flour in great quantities, bread, 
several other necessaries, a great quantity of linseed, boards, timber, wooden vessels, and 
all sorts of carpenter's work. Several small yachts are every day going backward and 
forward between these two towns. The inhabitants likewise get a considerable profit 
from the travellers who every hour pass through on the high road. 



The following historical items are from a map of New Bruns- 
wick, published in 1829, by Messrs. Marcellus, Terhune, and Letson. 

Reformed Dutch Church. — The present building is the third which this denomination 
have occupied in this city- The first was erected previous to the year 1717 ; how long 
before, is not known. It stood on the corner of Schureman and Burnet streets, and at 
that date was called " the church of the River and Lawrence Brook," and numbered 78 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 3 13 

members. In 1720, the Rev. Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, from the classis of 
Amsterdam, Holland, became its pastor. He was succeeded about the year 1750 by the 
Rev. Johannes Leydt, during whose ministry the second church was built, on the site 
of the present one. Mr. Leydt died in 1783, and was followed as pastor by Dr. Harden- 
burgh in 1786, who also died in that office in 1790, and was succeeded in office by Dr. 
Ira Condict. Dr. Condict died in 1811, and in 1812 the present church was erected. 
Since that time it has been successively under the care of Rev. J. Schureman, 1813; 
Rev. J. Fonda, 1814; Dr. Ludlow, 1818 ; Rev. J. Ferris, 1821 ; Rev. J.B. Harbenburgh, 
.1825. In 1828, a brick stuccoed steeple was placed on the house. 

Presbyterian Church. — This congregation occupy their second house of worship. 
The first was built either before or during the ministry of the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, who 
became their pastor in 1726, and continued until 1740. The church stood in Burnet- 
street, below Lyell's brook, and its site is at present used as a place of interment. Mr. 
Tennent was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Arthur, and by the Rev. Israel Reed, who 
became their minister sometime previous to the year 1759. Among the rest of the wan- 
ton depredations committed by the British soldiers, in the winter of 1776 and 1777, was 
the destruction of this church ; and it was not until after the war, in 1784, that the 
present edifice was erected. In 1786, the Rev. Walter Monteith became a colleague 
with Mr. Reed, and in 1797 Dr. Joseph Clark was installed their pastor, who died in 
the year 1813. To him succeeded the Rev. Leverett I. F. Huntington, in 1815 ; who 
also died in this office in 1820. In 1821, the Rev. Samuel B. How was installed, who 
resigned in 1823, and was succeeded in 1825 by the Rev. Joseph H. Jones. 

Episcopal Church. — Christ-church was erected in 1743. The congregation for many 
years were supplied with missionaries by the society in England, for " Propagating 
the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The Rev. Mr. Wood became their first minister in 1747, 
and was in 1754 succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Seabury, who afterward became the first 
bishop of the United States. He was followed by the Rev. Mr. McKean, in 1757 ; the 
Rev. Leonard Cutting, in 1764, and the late Dr. Abraham Beach, in 1767. In 1773 
the steeple was built, which was afterward burned to the stone basement in 1802, and 
rebuilt the same year. Dr. Beach resigned his rectorship in 1784, and was succeeded by 
the Rev. Mr. Rowland the same year; the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie. in 1787 ; the Rev. Mr. Van 
Dyke, in 1791; the Rev. Dr. Hobart, (afterward Bishop of New York,) in 1799; the 
Rev. Mr. Colton, in 1800, and Dr. John Croes, (Bishop of New Jersey,) in 1801. 

Baptist Church. — This church was erected in 1810. Its first pastor was the Rev. 
James McLaughlin, who was succeeded by the Rev. John Johnson, in 1818. The Rev. 
G. S. Webbs was installed in 1821. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. — The Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1811, 
and continued under the ministration of circuit preachers until 1819, since which time it 
has been successively under the pastoral care of the Rev. James Smith, Rev. Daniel 
Moore, Rev. Charles Pitman, Rev. Joseph Rushing, Rev. Samuel Doughty, Rev. Isaac 
Winner, Rev. George C. Cookman, and Rev. Pharaoh Ogden. On the 19th of June, 
1835, their church, which was constructed of brick, was blown down by a tornado : a. 
new one, built of wood, has since been erected. A Protestant Methodist, a Catholic, and 
an African church, have been erected within a few years. 



The Hon. James Schueeman was a prominent man in this vicinity 
in the war of the revolution. In the early part of the war he grad- 
uated at Queen's college. On a certain occasion the militia were 
called out to go against the enemy. Their captain made a speech, 
urging them to volunteer ; but not one complied. Schureman, 
then in the ranks, stepped out, and after volunteering himself, 
addressed them so eloquently that a company was immediately 
formed, which went to Long Island, and was engaged in the battle 
there. In the course of the war Schureman and George Thomson 
were taken prisoners by a party of British horse, at what is now 
Bergen's mills, on Lawrence brook, 3 miles south of New Bruns- 
wick. They were confined a short time in the guard-house in this 
city, which stood near the Nelson mansion, where they were sup- 
plied with food by Mrs. Van Deusen. From thence they were car- 

40 



314 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

ried to New York, and imprisoned in the sugar-house. Philip Kis- 
sack, a tory, pitying their suffering condition, furnished them with 
money, with which they purchased food, and kept themselves from 
starving. They bribed the guard to give them the privilege of the 
yard ; and one night, having supplied them with liquor in which 
there was a quantity of laudanum, they dug through the wall and 
escaped to the upper part of the city, near where the old prison 
stood. There they got on board a small fishing-boat, and with a 
single oar paddled across the Hudson to Powles Hook, and from 
thence proceeded to Morristown, where they joined the American 
army. Schureman, in 1789, was elected a member of congress, in 
which station he served four years ; then he was appointed to the 
United States senate, and still later became mayor of New Bruns- 
wick. 



William Paterson, governor of New Jersey, one of the most tal- 
ented men whose names appear in the annals of the state, was a 
resident of New Brunswick. " He graduated at Princeton, in 1763. 
He was a member of the convention which framed the Constitu- 
tion of the United States. He was a senator from New Jersey in 
the first congress. He was governor of New Jersey in 1790. He 
was afterward a judge of the United States supreme court. He 
died in 1806." 



When the British had possession of New Brunswick, the head- 
quarters of their commander, General Howe, was at the mansion 
in Bernard-st., now the residence of Abraham S. Nelson, Esq. 
Among the officers quartered upon the inhabitants was a sergeant 
named M'Nally, who resided with Mrs. William Van Deusen, the 
mother of Staats Van Deusen, Esq. This officer having used 
abusive language towards this lady, she made complaint to the 
general, who immediately sent for M'Nally, sternly reprimanded 
him, and threatened, if he heard of any more like conduct from him, 
he should be sent home in irons. 

The enemy frequently sent out foraging parties into the country, 
between whom and the inhabitants there was much skirmishing. 
For the defence of the place they erected three forts, simply em- 
bankments of sand. Two of them were on the hill in rear of 
Rutgers' college, the remains of one of which are still to be seen. 
The third was on the land of Wm. Van Deusen, Esq., just south of 
New- street. 



The following is the British account of the evacuation of New 
Brunswick by their troops, in June, 1777, with the events of a few 
days previous, as given in an extract from a letter by Sir William 
Howe to Lord George Germain, which was published in the Lon- 
don Gazette. 

Having established a corps sufficient for the defence of Amboy, the army assembled 
at Brunswick on the 12th of June. The enemy's principal force being encamped on the 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 315 

mountain above Quibbletown, with a corps of 2,000 men at Princeton, it was thought ad- 
visable to make a movement in two columns from Brunswick on the 14th, in the morn- 
ing, leaving Brigadier-general Matthew, with 2,000 men, to guard that post. The first 
division, under the command of Lord Cornwallis, advanced to Hillsborough, and the 
second to Middlebush, under the command of Lieutenant-general De Heister, with the 
view of drawing on an action if the enemy should remove from the mountain towards 
the Delaware ; but on finding their intention to keep a position which it would not have 
been prudent to attack, I determined without loss of time to pursue the principal objects 
of the campaign by withdrawing the army from Jersey ; and in consequence of this de- 
termination returned to the camp at Brunswick on the 19th, and marched from thence 
to Amboy on the 22d, intending to cross to Staten Island, from whence the embarkation 
was to take place. 

Upon quitting the camp at Brunswick, the enemy brought a few troops forward with 
two or three pieces of cannon, which they fired at the utmost range without the least ex- 
ecution or any return from us. They also pushed some battalions into the woods to 
harass the rear, where Lord Cornwallis commanded, who soon dispersed them with the 
loss of only two men killed and thirteen wounded : the enemy having nine killed and 
about thirty wounded. 

The necessary preparations being finished for crossing the troops to Staten Island, intel- 
ligence was received that the enemy had moved down from the mountain and taken post 
at Quibbletown, intending, as it was given out, to attack the rear of the army removing 
from Amboy ; that two corps had also advanced to their left, — one of 3.000 men and 8 
pieces of cannon, under the command of Lord Stirling, Generals Maxwell and Conway, 
the last said to be a captain in the French service ; — the other corps consisted of about 
700 men, with only one piece of cannon. 

In this situation of the enemy, it was judged advisable to make a movement that 
might lead on to an attack, which was done the 26th, in the morning, in two columns ; 
the right, under the command of Lord Cornwallis and Major-general Grant, Brigadiers 
Matthew and Leslie, and Col. Donop, took the route by Woodbridge, towards Scotch 
Plains. The left column, where I was with Major-general Sterne, Vaughan, and Grey, 
and Brigadiers Cleveland and Agnew, marched by Metuchin meeting-house to join the 
rear of the right column, in the road from thence to Scotch Plains, intending to have ta- 
ken separate routes, about two miles after the junction, in order to have attacked the 
enemy's left flank at Quibbletown. Four battalions were detached in the morning, with 
six pieces of cannon, to take post at Bonhamtown. 

The right column having fallen in with the aforementioned corps of 700 men soon af- 
ter passing Woodbridge, gave the alarm, by the firing that ensued, to their main army at 
Quibbletown, which retired to the mountain with the utmost precipitation. The small 
corps was closely pushed by the light troops, and with difficulty got off their piece of 
cannon. 

Lord Cornwallis, soon after he was upon the road leading to Scotch Plains from Me- 
tuchin meeting-house, came up with the corps commanded by Lord Stirling, whom he 
found advantageously posted in a country covered with wood, and his artillery well dis- 
posed. The king's troops, vying with each other upon this occasion, pressed forward to 
such close action, that the enemy, though inclined to resist, could not long maintain their 
ground against so great impetuosity, but were dispersed on all sides, leaving 3 pieces of 
brass ordnance, 3 captains and CO men killed, and upwards of 200 officers and men 
wounded and taken. 

His lordship had 5 men killed and 30 wounded. Capt. Finch, of the light company 
of the guards, was the only officer who suffered, and to my great concern, the wound 
proving mortal, he died the 29th of June, at Amboy. 

The troops engaged in this action were the 1st light-infantry, 1st British grenadiers, 
1st, 2d, and 3d Hessian grenadiers, 1st battalion of guards, Hessian chasseurs, and the 
Queen's rangers. I take the liberty of particularizing these corps, as Lord Cornwallis, 
in his report to me, so highly extols their merit and ardor upon this attack. One piece 
of cannon was taken by the guards, the other two by Col. Mingerode's battalion of Hes- 
sian grenadiers. , 

The enemy was pursued as far as Westfield with little effect, the day proving so in- 
tensely hot that the soldiers could with difficulty continue their march thither ; in the 
mean time it gave opportunity for those flying to escape by skulking in the thick woods, 
until night favored their retreat to the mountain. 

The army lay that night at Westfield, returned the next day to Rahway, and the day 
following to Amboy. On the 30th, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the troops began to 
cross over to Staten Island ; and the rear-guard, under the command of Lord Corn- 
wallis, passed at 2 in the afternoon, without the least appearance of an enemy. 



% 

316 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

The embarkation of the troops is proceeding with the utmost dispatch, and I sha.' 
have the honor of sending your lordship further information as soon as the troops are 
landed at the place of their destination. 

Capt. Adam Hyler and Capt. Marriner, the enterprising whale- 
boat privateers of New Brunswick, cruised between Egg Harbor 
and Staten Island, and annoyed the enemy so much that an armed 
force was sent to destroy their boats. They, however, built new 
ones, took several ships, and continued to levy their contributions 
on the New York fishermen, on the fishing banks. Marriner lived 
several years after the war, at Harlem, and is remembered as a 
facetious old gentleman. Hyler died at New Brunswick, in 1782. 
He was the most successful of the two. The following extracts, 
giving some of his adventures, evince boldness seldom equalled : 

Oct. 7, 1781. On Friday last, Capt. Adam Hyler, from New Brunswick, with one gun- 
boat and two whale-boats, within a quarter of a mile of the guard-ship at Sandy Hook, 
attacked five vessels, and after a smart conflict of fifteen minutes carried them. Two of 
them were armed ; one mounting four six-pounders, and one six swivels and one three- 
pounder. The hands made their escape, with their long-boats, and took refuge in a 
small fort, in which were mounted twelve swivel-guns, from which they kept up a con- 
stant firing ; notwithstanding which he boarded them all, without the loss of a man. 
On board of one of them was 250 bushels of wheat, and a quantity of cheese, belonging 
to Capt. Lippencot, bound to New York. He took from them 50 bushels of wheat, a 
quantity of cheese, several swivels, a number of fusees, one cask of powder, and some 
dry-goods ; and stripped them of their sails and rigging — not being able to bring the 
vessels into port, in consequence of a contrary wind and tide. After which, he set all 
on fire, save one, on board of which was a woman and four small children, which pre- 
vented her from sharing a similar fate. 

Oct. 15, 1781. On the 13th inst., Capt. Adam Hyler, of this place, with one gun-boat 
and two whale-boats, boarded one sloop and two schooners, which all the hands except 
two had previously left, and which lay under cover of the lighthouse-fort, at Sandy 
Hook, and brought them off; but the sloop being such a dull sailer, and being much an- 
noyed from a galley lying near Staten Island, she was set on fire, about three miles from 
the fort. One of the schooners running aground, by accident, was stripped and left ; 
the other, a remarkably fine, fast-sailing, Virginia-built pilot-boat, mounted with one four- 
pounder, was brought, with two prisoners, to this place. 

Extract of a Letter from New Jersey, June 19, 1782. — The exertions of the cele- 
brated water-partisan, Capt. Hyler, have been a considerable annoyance to the wood- 
shallops, trading-vessels, and plundering parties of the enemy, about Sandy Hook, Long 
Island, and Staten Island, for several months past. You have heard that his attempt 
to take an eighteen-gun cutter was crowned with success. It was indeed a bold and 
hazardous attempt, considering how well provided she was against being boarded. He 
was, however, compelled to blow her up, after securing his prisoners, and a few articles 
on board. His surprising a captain of the guard, at the lighthouse, with all his men, a 
short time ago, was also a handsome affair, and gained him much credit. He has none 
but picked and tried men : the person who discovers the least symptom of fear or diffi- 
dence, be he who he will, is immediately turned on shore, and never suffered to enter 
again. In the next place, they are taught to be particularly expert at the oar, and to 
row with such silence and dexterity as not to be heard at the smallest distance, even 
though three or four boats be together, and go at the rate of twelve miles an hour. 

Their captures are chiefly made by surprise, or stratagem; and 'most of the crews 
that have hitherto been taken, by these boats, declare they never knew any thing of an 
enemy being at hand till they saw the pistol or cutlass at their throats. 

There was a droll instance of this, some weeks ago, as one of the prisoners, a shrewd, 
sensible fellow, and late captain of one of the captured vessels, relates it himself. " I 
was on deck," said he, " with three or four men, in a very pleasant evening, with our 
sentinel fixed. Our vessel was at anchor, near Sandy Hook, and the Lion man-of-war 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 31 7 

about one quarter of a mile distant. It was calm and clear, and we were all admiring 
the beautiful and splendid appearance of the full moon, which was then three or four 
hours above the horizon. While we were thus attentively contemplating the serene lu- 
minary, we suddenly heard several pistols discharged into the cabin ; and turning around 
perceived, at our elbows, a number of armed people, fallen as it were from the clouds, 
who ordered us to ' surrender in a moment, or we were dead men !' Upon this we were 
turned into the hold, and the hatches barred over us. The firing, however, had alarmed 
the man-of-war, who hailed us, and desired to know what was the matter. As we were 
not in a situation to answer, at least so far as to be heard, Capt. Hyler was kind enough 
to do it for us ; telling them, through the speaking-trumpet, that ' all was well !' After 
which, unfortunately for us, they made no further inquiry." 

After the notorious refugee, Lippencot, had barbarously murdered Capt. Huddy, at 
Sandy Hook, Washington was very anxious to have the murderer secured. He had 
been demanded from the British general, and his surrender refused. Capt. Hyler was 
determined to take Lippencot. On inquiry, he found that he resided in a well-known 
house in Broad-st., New York. Dressed and equipped like a man-of-war press-gang, he 
left the Kills, with one boat, after dark, and arrived at Whitehall about nine o'clock. 
Here he left his boat in charge of three men, and then passed to the residence of Lippen- 
cot, where he inquired for him, and found he was absent, and gone to a cock-pit. 
Thus failing in his object, he returned to his boat, with his press-gang, and left White- 
hall ; but finding a sloop, lying at anchor, off" the battery, from the West Indies, and 
laden with rum, he took her, cut her cable, set her sails, and with a northeast wind sailed 
to Elizabethtown Point ; and before daylight had landed from her and secured 40 hogs- 
heads of rum. He then burned the sloop, to prevent her recapture. 



The following account of the mine near New Brunswick is from 
Morse's Gazetteer: 

About the years 1748, 1749, 1750, several lumps of virgin copper, from 5 to 30 pounds 
weight, (in the whole upwards of 200 pounds,) were ploughed up, in a field belonging to 
Philip French, Esq., within a quarter of a mile of the town. This induced Mr. Elias 
Boudinot to take a lease of the land, of Mr. French, for 99 years, with a view to search 
for copper-ore. A company was formed, and about the year 1751 a shaft was com- 
menced, in the low ground, 300 yards from the river. The spot selected had been 
marked by a neighbor, who, passing it in the dark, had observed a flame rising from 
the ground, nearly as large as the body of a man. At about 15 feet, the miners struck 
a vein of blue stone, about two feet thick, between loose walls of red sandstone, covered 
with a sheet of pure copper, somewhat thicker than gold-leaf. The stone was filled with 
grains of virgin copper, much like copper-filings ; and occasionally lumps of virgin cop- 
per, of from 5 to 30 pounds, were found in it. The vein was followed about 30 feet, 
when the accumulation of water exceeded the means of the company to remove it. A 
stamping-mill was erected, where, by reducing the ore to powder, and washing it, many 
tons of pure copper were obtained, and exported to England. Sheets of copper, of the 
thickness of two pennies, and three feet square, have been taken from between the rocks, 
within four feet of the surface, in several parts of the hill. At about 50 or 60 feet deep, 
a body of fine solid ore was struck, in the same vein, but between rocks of white flinty 
spar, which was soon worked out. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard of the Dutch Reformed church : 

Here lies the body of J. H. Hardenbergh, D. D., late pastor of this church, who de- 
parted this life the 30th day of October, 1790, aged 52 years, — months, and — days. 
He was a zealous preacher of the gospel, and his life and conversation afforded, from his ear- 
liest days, to all who knew him, a bright example of real piety. He was a steady patriot, 
and in his public and private conduct he manifested himself to be the enemy of tyranny 
and oppression, the lover of freedom, and the friend of his country. He has gone to his 
Lord and Redeemer, in whose atonement he confidently trusted. He is gone to receive 
the fruits of his faithful labors, and the reward of a well-spent life. Reader, while you 
lament the loss to society and his friends, go walk in his virtuous footsteps ; and when 
you have finished the work assigned you, you shall rest with him in eternal peace. 

This monument is erected to the memory of Dinah Hardenbergh, relict of the Rev 



318 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

J. H. Hardenbergh, D. D., S. T. P. Of high attainments here in grace, now resting in 
glory — died the 26th day of March, 1807, aged 81 years. 

Tell how she climb'd the everlasting hills, 

Surveying all the realms above ; 

Borne on a strong-wing'd faith, and on 

The fiery wheels of an immortal love. 

Beneath this stone are deposited the remains of the Rev. John Schureman, D. D., 
professor of pastoral theology, ecclesiastical history, and church government, in the the- 
ological seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, at New Brunswick ; who, while en- 
gaged in a course of active and highly useful labors, enjoying the confidence of the 
churches, and the affections of his brethren, departed this life, May 15th, 1818, in the 
40th year of his age. 



wnb pn¥ -or 



The Reverend Mr. Elias Van Bunschoten was born Oct. 26th, 1738, graduated A. B. 
1768, licensed to preach 1773, and settled in the ministry first at Shagticoke, afterward 
at Minisink. He died Jan. 10th, 1815. Established in the truth, and ardent in its de- 
fence, from his youth to his old age he persevered in a good profession of faith, and in 
a holy and exemplary life. In the ministry of the gospel he was faithful, and diligently 
employed his talents in the service of his divine Redeemer. His zeal to promote the in- 
terests of the church of Christ prompted him to make a very liberal donation to the 
support of indigent students, and the benefit of the theological college at New Bruns- 
wick. To perpetuate the memory of this venerable and charitable man, and to express 
their gratitude, the Right Revd. Genl. Synod of the Reformed Dutch church have erect- 
ed, at the public expense, this monument. 

~"Kk iovXe ayadc Kat TTt^i.t 



Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John II. Livingston, D. D., S. T. P. Born at 
Poughkeepsie, state of New York, May 30th, 1746 ; educated for the ministry at the 
University of Utrecht, in Holland ; called to the pastoral office of the Reformed Dutch 
church, in New York, 1770 ; appointed by the general synod of the Reformed Dutch 
church in America their professor in didactic and polemic theology, in 1781, and elected 
to the presidency of Queen's college, New Jersey, in 1810. There, in performance of 
the duties of his office, and blessed in the enjoyment of mental energy, high reputation, 
and distinguished usefulness, he suddenly but sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, Jan. 20th, 
1825, in the 79th year of his age, the 55th of his ministry, and the 41st of his profes- 
sional labors. In him, with dignified appearance, extensive erudition, almost unrivalled 
talents, as a sacred orator and professor, were blended manners polished, candid, and 
attractive, all ennobled by that entire devotion to his" Saviour which became such a 
servant to yield to such a Master. In token of their gratitude for his services and 
veneration for his memory, the general synod have ordered this monumental stone to be 
erected. 



To the memory of the Rev. John De Witt, D. D., professor of sacred literature and 
biblical criticism, in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, and of 
logic and belles-lettres in Rutgers' college, who, after discharging the duties of a Chris- 
tian pastor, with much zeal and success, during several years at Albany, entered, Sept. 
1823, upon his professional labors, which he executed with distinguished ability, and died 
October 11th, A. D. 1831, aged 41 years and 10 months. This monument is designed 
to express their high regard for the deceased. Ah ! nimium citus excessit ! 

To the memory of the Rev. Selah S. Woodhull, D. D., professor of ecclesiastical his- 
tory, church government and pastoral theology, in the Theological Seminary of the Re- 
formed Dutch church, and of metaphysics and philosophy of the human mind, in Rutgers' 
College. For 19 years, he was the acceptable pastor of the Reformed Dutch church in 
Brooklyn. November 14th, 1825, he entered upon his professional labors, and died the 
following February, on the 27th day of the month, in the 40th year of his age— respected 
for his learning, piety, industry, and zeal. His sudden removal from these important sta- 
tions is deeply lamented. — [Erected by the general Synod.] 

* The memory of the just is blessed. t Well done ! good and faithful servant. 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 31 9 

The following inscriptions are from the Episcopal graveyard : 

Brigadier Anthony Walton White, who departed this life on the 10th of February, 
1803, in the 53d year of his age, rests beneath this monumental stone. He was an 
affectionate husband, a tender parent, a sincere and generous friend, a zealous and inflexible 
patriot, and a faithful, active, and gallant officer, in the army of the United States dur- 
ing the revolutionary war. 

In memory of Edward Carroll, M. D., who departed this life 1840, IE. 73. Formerly 
of the island of Jamaica, but for many years a highly respected inhabitant of this town. 
He was a physician, alike eminent for the Christian graces and virtues that adorned his 
life, and for the medical skill and science that ranked him high in his profession. The 
loveliness and purity of his character secured to him the esteem of all, and the friend- 
ship of many. 

" Rich in love 
And sweet humanity, he was himself, 
To the degree that he desired, beloved." 



SOUTH BRUNSWICK. 

South Brunswick is about 8 miles long, 7 broad, and is bounded 
NE. by North Brunswick ; SE. by Monroe ; SW. by East and West 
Windsor, Mercer co. ; and NW. by Franklin, Somerset co. The 
township contains 8 stores, 4 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$30,850 ; 12 schools, 360 scholars. Pop. 2,797. In the N. part are 
some noted sandhills, covering a space of several miles. The vil- 
lage of Kingston is near the NE. corner of the township, at the inter- 
section of the Delaware and Raritan canal with the New York and 
Philadelphia turnpike, and on the line of Somerset co., 3 miles NE. 
of Princeton. It contains 2 taverns, 4 stores, a grist and saw mill, 
an academy, a Presbyterian church, and about 35 dwellings. Be- 
fore the construction of railroads in the state, this was the great 
thoroughfare between New York and the South. It is stated by 
Gordon, that forty-nine stages, loaded with about 400 passengers, 
have halted here at the same time, in front of Withington's inn. 
Directly opposite this inn stood, in olden times, Vantilburgh's tav- 
ern, long known as the favorite stopping-place of Washington, and 
the governors of New Jersey, in passing from the eastern towns 
to the state capital. It was at this village that Washington, with 
the American troops, eluded the British, on the day of the battle of 
Princeton, by filing off to the left at the church, down the narrow 
road leading to Rocky-hill, while the enemy in pursuit, supposing 
he had gone to New Brunswick to destroy their winter stores, kept 
on the main road. Cross-roads contains 2 taverns, 2 stores, and 
about 15 dwellings. Plainsborough has a store, tavern, a grist-m., 
and a few dwellings. 

Cranberry is partly in Monroe township. The village is princi- 
pally built on a single street, and contains 2 Presbyterian churches, 
2 academies, 73 dwellings, and about 600 inhabitants. The annexed 
is a view of the First Presbyterian church and academy, at the 
southern termination of the village. There is also a neat Presby- 
terian church and an academy at the other end of the town. For- 
merly a Presbyterian church stood in the graveyard, but it was 



320 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



taken down many years since. A Baptist church, in olden times, 
stood in the village. The society now worship at Hightstown. 
Cranberry is one of the oldest places in this part of the state. It 
was settled about the year 1697, by Josiah Prickett, butcher, of 




View of the Presbyterian Church and Academy, Cranberry. 

Burlington. The following year he sold out to John Harrison of 
Flushing, Long Island. About 50 years since there were only 15 
houses here, eight on the south and seven on the north side of Cran- 
berry brook. Just previous to the battle of Monmouth, the Ameri- 
can army passed through this place. 

It was in the vicinity of Cranberry that David Brain erd, the 
pious and devoted missionary, labored for a while among the Indi- 
ans. Mr. Brainerd at first preached to the Indians in the woods, 
between Stockbridge and Albany, but without much apparent suc- 
cess. He then turned his attention to the Indians at the forks of 
the Delaware, and at Crossweeksung and Cranberry, where his la- 
bors were attended with remarkable success. " His life and diary 
among the Indians," says an eminent English divine, " exhibits a 
perfect pattern of the qualities which should distinguish the in- 
structor of rude and barbarous tribes ; the most invincible patience 
and self-denial, the profoundest humility, exquisite prudence, inde- 
fatigable industry, and such a devotedness to God, or rather such 
an absorption of the whole soul in zeal for the divine glory and 
salvation of men, as is scarcely paralleled since the age of the 
apostles." The following extracts from Brainerd's journal will 
show the effects which followed his preaching. 

(Aug. 8th, 1744.) In the afternoon I preached to the Indians; their number was 
now about sixty-five persons, men, women, and children. I discoursed from Luke xiv. 
16 — 23, and was favored with uncommon freedom. 

There was much concern among them while I was discoursing publicly ; but afterward, 
when I spoke to one and another more particularly, whom I perceived under concern, the 
power of God seemed to descend upon the assembly "like a rushing mighty wind," 
and with an astonishing energy bore down all before it. 

I stood amazed at the influence that seized the audience almost universally, and could 
compare it to nothing more aptly than a mighty torrent, that bears down and sweeps be- 
fore it whatever is in its way. Almost all persons, of all ages, were bowed downed together, 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 321 

and scarce one was able to withstand the shock of the surprising operation. Old men 
and women, who had been drunken wretches for many years, and some little children, 
not more than six or seven years of age, appeared in distress for their souls, as well as 
persons of middle age. And it was apparent these children were not merely frightened 
with seeing the general concern, but were made sensible of their danger, the badness of 
their hearts, and their misery without Christ. The most stubborn hearts were now 
obliged to bow. A principal man among the Indians, who before thought his state good, 
because he knew more than the generality of the Indians, and who with great confidence 
the day before told me " he had been a Christian more than ten years," was now brought 
under solemn concern for his soul, and wept bitterly. Another man, considerable in 
years, who had been a murderer, a powwaw, and a notorious drunkard, was likewise 
brought now to cry for mercy with many tears, and to complain much that he could be 
no more concerned when he saw his danger so great. 

There were almost universally praying and crying for mercy in every part of the house, 
and many out of doors, and numbers could neither go nor stand ; their concern was so 
great, each for himself, that none seemed to take any notice of those about them, but 
each prayed for themselves ; and were, to their own apprehension, as much retired as if 
every one had been by himself in a desert, or, rather, they thought nothing about any but 
themselves, and so were every one praying apart, although all together. 

It seemed to me there was an exact fulfilment of that prophecy, Zech. xii. 10, 12, for 
there was now " A great mourning, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon ;" — and each 
seemed to " mourn apart." Methought this had a near resemblance to the day of God's 
power, mentioned Josh. x. 14, for I must say, I never saw any day like it in all re- 
spects ; it was a day wherein the Lord did much destroy the kingdom of darkness among 
this people. 

This concern was most rational and just: those who had been awakened any con- 
siderable time, complained especially of the badness of their hearts ; those newly 
awakened, of the badness of their lives and actions; and all were afraid of the anger of 
God ; and of everlasting misery as the desert of their sins. Some of the white people, 
who came out of curiosity to " hear what this babbler would say" to the poor ignorant 
Indians, were much awakened, and appeared to be wounded with a view of their perish- 
ing state. 

Those who had lately obtained relief, were filled with comfort ; they appeared calm, 
and rejoiced in Christ Jesus ; and some of them took their distressed friends by the hand, 
telling them of the goodness of Christ, and the comfort that is to be enjoyed in him, 
and invited them to come and give up their hearts to him. And I could observe some 
of them, in the most unaffected manner, lifting up their eyes to heaven, as if crying for 
mercy, while they saw the distress of the poor souls around them. 

Aug. 9th. In the afternoon I discoursed to them publicly. There were now present 
about seventy persons. I opened and applied the parable of the sower, and was enabled 
to discourse with much plainness. There were many tears among them while I was dis- 
coursing, but no considerable cry : yet some were much affected with a few words spoken 
from Matt. xi. 29, with which I concluded. But while I was discoursing near night to 
two or three of the awakened persons, a divine influence seemed to attend what was 
spoken, which caused the persons to cry out in anguish of soul, although I spoke not a 
word of terror : but, on the contrary, set before them the fulness of Christ's merits, and 
his willingness to save all that came to him. 

The cry of these was heard by others, who, though scattered before, immediately 
gathered round. I then proceeded in the same strain of gospel invitation, till they were 
all melted into tears and cries, except two or three ; and seemed in the greatest distress 
to find and secure an interest in the great Redeemer. Some who had but little more 
than a ruffle made in their passions the day before, seemed now to be deeply affected, and 
the concern in general appeared near as prevalent a9 the day before. There was indeed 
a very great mourning among them, and yet every one seemed to mourn apart. For so 
great was their concern, that almost every one was praying and crying for himself, as if 
none had been near. Guttummaukalummeh guttummaukalummeh,\. e. "Have mercy 
upon me, have mercy upon me !" was the common cry. 

It was very affecting to see the poor Indians, who the other day were yelling in their 
idolatrous feasts, now crying to God with such importunity, for an interest in his dear 
Son! 

41 



322 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

MONROE. 

Monroe was formed from South Amboy in 1838. It is about 8 
miles long, 6 wide, and is bounded NE. by South Amboy ; SE. by 
Freehold, Monmouth co. ; SW. by East Windsor, Mercer co., and 
NW. by North and South Brunswick. The surface is generally 
level, soil sandy, and in some parts covered with pine and oak. 
The Camden and Amboy railroad passes through the township. 
There are 8 stores, 1. paper factory, 4 grist-m., 18 saw-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $109,900 ; 1 academy, 8 schools, 285 scholars. Pop. 2,453. 

Spotswood, on the line of the railroad, 10 miles from South Am- 
boy, is supposed to have received its name from John Johnson, of 
Spotswood in Scotland, who early settled in the vicinity. There 
are in the village 3 stores, a grist and a saw mill, 2 churches, and 
52 dwellings. The Episcopal church has long been established. 
The Reformed Dutch church was organized August 5th, 1821, and 
the Rev. John M'Clure, its first clergyman, was settled in the fall 
of 1822 ; left in the autumn of 1824. Rev. Henry L. Rice was settled 
September 24, 1825 ; left September 10th, 1834. Rev. John C. Van 
Liew was his successor, and left in January, 1842, when he w T as 
succeeded by its present pastor, the Rev. William R. S. Betts. Snuff 
and cigars are extensively manufactured in this village. 

William Lyon, a continental soldier, died in this township in 1841. He served through- 
out the war of the revolution, and was in most of the actions in which the Jersey troops 
were engaged. About the time of the battle of Trenton, as he was marching with his 
feet bare and bloody, over the frozen ground, he took from a clothes-line, near a dwelling, 
a pair of stockings. The lady of the house came out to reproach him for the act. He 
answered her by simply pointing to his lacerated feet. Further argument was unneces- 
sary. She went back in tears. Washington saw him, and tapping him on the shoulder, 
said, " My brave boy, you deserve a better fate." " Ah !" replied the heroic soldier, 
" there is no danger of my feet freezing as long as the blood runs." 



PISCATAWAY. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. It is about 8 miles 
long, 6 broad, bounded N. by Westfield, Essex co. ; E. by Wood- 
bridge ; S. by Raritan river, and westerly by Franklin, Bridgewater, 
and Warren, Somerset co. The township is supposed to have de- 
rived its name from Piscataqua, in Maine, a place from which some 
of the first settlers emigrated to this place, which at the first was 
called New Piscataqua. A ridge of high land runs quite across 
it east and west, dividing it into nearly equal parts, from which the 
land slopes in a gentle declivity north and south. The soil is most- 
ly red shale, which in some sections is covered Math loam and 
gravel. The land is fertile, and agriculture is in a high state of 
progressive improvement. Pop. 2,828. There are in the township 
7 stores, 5 grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $30,850 ; 8 schools, 
222 scholars. 

New Market, (formerly Quibbletown,) a village of some 15 or 
20 houses, is the post-town. Brooklin, Samptown, New Durham, 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 323 

Piscataway town, and Raritan Landing, are small villages in the 
township. Piscataway town, containing about a dozen dwellings 
and a church, and situated 3 miles E. from New Brunswick and 1 
from Raritan river, was an old Indian village, and was the seat of 
justice for the counties of Middlesex and Somerset as early as 1683, 
at which period the courts were held sometimes at this place and 
sometimes at Woodbridge. Raritan Landing is situated 2 miles 
above New Brunswick, and contains 25 or 30 dwellings, and seve- 
ral stores. There is a bridge across the Raritan at this place. 

The earliest authentic history of this township is gathered from 
the public records, which state " that the large tract on the east side 
of Raritan river, which comprises the towns of Piscataway, Eliza- 
beth, &c, was purchased from the Indians in 1663. The purcha- 
sers were John Bailey, Daniel Denton, Luke Watson, and others, 
who obtained a patent in 1664 from Gov. Nichols, who acted under 
the Duke of York." The names of the first settlers on record are, 
the Gillmans in 1 663 ; the Blackshaws, Drakes, Hands, and Hen- 
dricks, in 1677 ; the Dotys and Wolfs in 1678 ; the Smalleys, Hulls, 
and Trotters, in 1679; the Hansworths, Martins, and Higgins, in 
1680; the Dunhams, Laflowers, and Fitz Randolphs, in 1681; the 
Suttons, Brindleys, Bounds, and Fords, in 1682; the Davises and 
Slaughters, in 1683; the Pregmores, in 1684; the Grubs and 
Adamses, in 1685 ; the Chandlers and Smiths in 1687 ; the Mortons, 
Molesons, and McDaniels, in 1689. It is supposed that most of these 
persons were Baptists. The tradition is, however, that there were 
but six professed Baptists, viz: Hugh Dunn, who was an exhorter, 
John Drake, afterward their pastor, Nicholas Bonham, John Smal- 
ley, Edmond Dunham, afterward minister of the Seventh-day 
Baptists, and John Fitz Randolph. The above persons were consti- 
tuted a Baptist church in the spring of 1689, by the assistance of 
Rev. Thomas Killingsworth, who was then pastor of Middletown 
and Cohansey churches. 

The first preachers in Piscataway were three lay brethren, of the Baptist persuasion, 
viz : Hugh Dunn, John Drake, and Edmond Dunham, who with three others were consti- 
tuted a Baptist church as mentioned above, being one of the oldest Baptist churches in the 
state. John Drake was ordained pastor of this church, and so remained till his death in 
1739, when he was succeeded by Rev. Benjamin Stelle, a native of New York, and of 
French extraction ; he died in 1759, and was succeeded by his son, Rev. Isaac Stelle. 
Mr. Stelle continued pastor till his death in 1781, and was succeeded by Rev. Reune 
Runyan in 1783, who continued pastor till his death in 1811. Rev. James McLaughlin 
became the next pastor of this church in 1812, and continued such till 1817. In the 
fall of 1818, Rev. Daniel Dodge was called to the pastorship, and continued till 1832, 
and in 1833 was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Daniel D. Lewis. 

The Seventh-day Baptist church was formed by 17 persons who seceded from the 
Piscataway church in 1707, and signed a special covenant, and became a distinct so- 
ciety. Rev. Edmond Dunham was their first pastor ; his son, Rev. Jonathan Dunham, 
was his successor; Rev. Nathan Rogers was their next minister. This church, the only 
one of its denomination in the state for 30 years, is now respectable in numbers and 
wealth. Its present pastor is Rev. Walter B. Gillette ; a branch from it formed another 
church in the neighboring village of Plainfield in 1838. The Baptist church at Scotch 
Plains was formed of members of the Piscataway church in 1747, from which the 
Second Baptist church in Piscataway, known as the Samptown church, was fonned in 
1792. Their first pastor was Rev. Jacob Fitz Randolph, who was succeeded by Rev. 



324 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 



Lebbeus Lathrop. Mr. Lathrop was succeeded by their present minister, Rev. E. M. 
Barker. There is an Episcopal church in the township, which was established at a very 
early period. Their society is at present rather small and feeble, but through the liber- 
ality of an individual they have a neat and commodious house of worship. There is a 
small settlement of persons of the Dutch Reformed persuasion along the Raritan river, 
north of Raritan Landing, but they have as yet no church in the township. Nine 
tenths of the population are Baptists in sentiment. 



WOODBRIDGE. 

The extreme length of this township, E. and W., is about 10 
miles ; breadth, N. and S., 9 miles. It is bounded N. by Rahway 
and Westfield, Essex co. ; E. by Staten Island sound ; SE. by Perth 
Amboy ; S. by Raritan river, and W. by Piscataway. The surface 
is level, and the soil fertile, and very productive in grass. The 
New Jersey railroad passes through the NW. portion of the town- 
ship. There are in the township 1 cotton-m., 1 academy, 43 students, 
16 schools, 491 scholars. Pop. 4,821. 




View in Woodbridge. 

Matouchin, Uniontown, and Bonhamtown, the two first of which 
are on the line of the railroad, contain respectively a few dwell- 
ings. At Matouchin there is a Presbyterian church. The large 
and flourishing village of Rahway is on the N. boundary, partly in 
Essex county. Woodbridge was first settled by emigrants from 
England, who came over with Gov. Carteret in 1665. It occupied 
for many years a prominent place among the early settlements in 
East Jersey. "In 1668, the lands were portioned out to the differ- 
ent associates, and on June 1st, 1669, a charter was granted them 
which created a township, to consist of not less than sixty families, 
out of the tract, which was said to be six miles square." 

The annexed is a view in the village of Woodbridge, which is 9 
miles NE. of New Brunswick. On the left is seen the academy ; 
on the right the Presbyterian church, and in the distance Trinity 
church. There are also in the village, a Methodist church, 2 tav- 
erns, 4 stores, a grist and a saw m., an extensive pottery, and 50 



MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 325 

dwellings. The Presbyterian society was organized in 1707, and 
three churches have stood on the site of the present one. The 
Episcopal church has been organized more than a century, and the 
Methodist church within a few years. In the American revolution 
the Rev. Dr. Azel Roe, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was 
taken prisoner by the British in the night from the dwelling now 
occupied as the parsonage, and carried to Staten Island. 

The annexed extracts from ancient newspapers relate to events 
which occurred in this vicinity in the war of the revolution : 

Extract of a letter from an officer at Camp, dated Bonhamtown, April 15, 1777. — A 
detachment under the command of Capt. Alexander Paterson, of the Pennsylvania 12th 
regiment, commanded by Col. Cook, attacked the piquet guard of the enemy at two 
o'clock this morning, about 400 yards from Bonhamtown, and after a short but obstinate 
engagement, the whole of the guard, 25 in number, were either killed or taken prisoners. 
Lieut. Frazier, of the 71st regiment, was killed on the spot. The enemy, though advan. 
tageously posted, did not attempt to support their guard, but retired with precipitation to 
their works. Our officers and soldiers behaved with the greatest coolness and courage 
on this occasion. Their conduct would do honor to the best-disciplined troops. We 
had Lieutenants M'Alharton and Reily, of Col. Cook's regiment, wounded, but not mor- 
tally. 

Extract from a letter dated Matouchin, April 22, 1777. — The night before last a party 
of 16 men of Col. Cook's regiment, under the command of Lieut. M'Cabe, attacked a 
piquet guard at Bonhamtown, drove it in, killed one man, and wounded two, who were 
left on the field. The enemy were soon reinforced ; but our party kept up their fire, 
maintained their ground until daybreak, and then made a regular retreat. Last night 
another party, under the command of Lieut. Lodge, attacked the same piquet ; but the 
sentries being doubled, Lieut. M'Cabe was obliged to reinforce, which we soon accom- 
plished, and then we drove them, — with some small loss, it is thought, on their side. 
Our party sustained no damage, and, with only 32 men, we kept their troops in Bonham- 
town under arms all night. 

Post, near Bonhamtown, May 11, 1777. — I have the pleasure to inform you that yes- 
terday part of Gen. Stevens' division attacked the Royal Highlanders and six companies 
of light-infantry. It was a bold enterprise, — they being posted within two miles of 
Bonhamtown, and about the same distance from Brunswick. The action continued 
about an hour and a half. The continental troops behaved well, drove in the piquets at 
Bonhamtown, attacked and drove the Highlanders out of a wood they had taken pos- 
session of, near to Piscataqua town. The enemy were reinforced, but were again com- 
pelled to give way. They were reinforced a second time, when, upon due consideration 
of our situation with rospect to the enemy's different posts, (of Brunswick, Raritan Land- 
ing, and Bonhamtown,) it was judged advisable to retire. The retreat was made in ex- 
cellent order, and our loss is inconsiderable. I congratulate you on this advantage ob- 
tained over the enemy's best troops. The Highlanders, obstinately brave, were too 
proud to surrender, — which cost many of them dear. 

April 16th, 1777. — From New Jersey we learn, that on or about the 20th ult. a young 
woman, passing an evacuated house in Woodbridge, saw, through the window, a drunk- 
en Hessian soldier, who had straggled from his party. There being no men within less 
than a mile of town, she went home, dressed in man's apparel, and, armed with an old 
firelock, returned to the house, entered it, and took the Hessian prisoner, — whom she 
soon stripped of his arms, and was leading him off, when she fell in with the patrole 
guard of a New Jersey regiment, stationed near Woodbridge, to whom she delivered her 
prisoner. 

June 20, 1782. — William Clarke, the noted horse-thief, is no more. He was shot, 
somewhere in the vicinity of Woodbridge, on one of his customary excursions. This 
man was an early refugee from Jersey, and has taken off, since the fall of 1776, upwards 
of one hundred valuable horses, from Monmouth, and other counties in the neighborhood 
of the enemy, — for which he found a ready sale in New York, and on Long Island. 
He had eluded the strictest vigilance of our guards and scouts for upwards of 5 years, 
although it is pretty certain that he has passed at least half that time within our lines. 
He was destroyed at last by a stratagem, said to be as follows : A letter was conveyed 



326 MIDDLESEX COUNTY. 

to him, as if from one of his confidents and accomplices in Sussex, signifying that if he 
came over at the time therein specified, he would find two excellent horses tied in a cer- 
tain field, which might be conveyed to Staten Island with very little trouble or risk. 
He accordingly came, and was instantly shot down by the persons who lay in wait for 
him. 

Trenton, June 7, 1780. — Thursday evening last a party of about 30 refugees, from 
New York, landed at Stony Point, on Raritan river, and from thence went to Wood- 
bridge, where they made Justice Freeman, Mr. Edgar, and six other white persons, and 
two negroes, prisoners, whom they carried off to New York. 

Zebulon Montgomery Pike was born at Lamberton, Mercer co., Jan. 5th, 1779. His 
parents were natives of Woodbridge, where their son spent his youth. His father was 
an officer in the army of the United States, and Zebulon, having received a common 
school education, entered as a cadet into a company under his father's command, in 
which he served on the western frontiers. He afterward received a lieutenant's com- 
mission. In 1805, he was employed with a party of 20 men to explore the Mississippi 
to its source, while Capts. Lewis and Clarke were sent on a similar expedition up the 
Missouri. Within two months after his return, he was selected by Gen. Wilkinson for a 
second perilous journey of hardship and exposure, in exploring the interior of the then 
called country of Louisiana. After leaving the Osage village, Pike and his men were 
overtaken by winter, unprovided with any clothing suitable for the season. Their horses 
died, and for weeks they were obliged to explore their way through the wilderness, car- 
rying packs of 60 or 70 pounds weight, besides their arms, exposed to the severity of 
cold, relying solely on the chase for subsistence, and often for two or three days without 
food. In the course of the expedition, the party visited Santa Fe, and on July 1st, 1807, 
arrived at Natchitoches. On his return, he received the thanks of the government, and 
was appointed captain, shortly after, a major, and, in 1810, a colonel of infantry. Dur- 
ing the intervals of his military duties, he prepared for the press a narrative of his two 
expeditions, which was published in 1810. 

In the beginning of 1813, Col. Pike was appointed a brigadier-general. On the 25th 
IK April, at the head of 1,500 choice troops, he sailed from Sackett's Harbor on an ex- 
pedition against York, the capital of Upper Canada. On the 27th, the whole force land- 
ed near York, and were led on by Gen. Pike in person against the British works. They 
advanced through the woods, and after carrying one battery by assault in the most gal- 
lant manner, moved on in columns towards the main work. The fire of the enemy was 
soon silenced by the fire of the American artillery, and a flag of surrender was expected, 
when a tremendous explosion suddenly took place from the British magazine, which had 
been previously prepared for this purpose. An immense, quantity of large stones were 
thrown with terrible force in every direction, one of which struck Gen. Pike on the 
breast, and inflicted a mortal wound. The troops, recovering from their confusion, were 
instantly formed again ; and as a body of them passed by their wounded general, he 
said — " Pusli on, brave fellows, and avenge your general." While the surgeons were car- 
rying him out of the field, a tumultuous huzza was heard ; Pike turned his head, with 
an anxious look of inquiry : he was told by a sergeant, " The British union-jack is com- 
ing down, general — the stars are going up !" He heaved a heavy sigh, and smiled. He 
was then carried on board the commodore's ship, where he lingered for a few hours. 
Just before he breathed his last, the British standard was brought to liim ; he made a 
sign to have it placed under his head, and expired without a groan. 



The following inscriptions are from monuments in the graveyard 
in the village of Woodbridge : — 

In memory of Dr. Moses Bloomfield, 40 years a physician and surgeon, in this town, 
senior physician and surgeon in the hospital of the United States, representative in the 
provincial congress and general assembly, an upright magistrate, elder of the Presbyte- 
rian church, <&c. Born 4th Dec, 1729, died 14th Aug., 1791, in his 63d year. Tim. 
i. 12, — I know in whom I have believed. 



Here is interred the precious remains of Mrs. Ruth Piejison, wife of the Rev. Mr. 
John Pierson, and daughter of the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford, in New Eng- 
land, who fell asleep in Jesus, 7th of January, 1732, aetatis 38. 

Reposed to rest, in this cold bed do lie 

Remains of meekness, prudence, piety ; 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 327 

Best of Christians, parents, wives, and friends, 
Grim death to this dark house remorseless sends ; 
Once dear to all, still dear to Christ, who'll make 
This dust revive, and in his likeness wake. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

Monmouth co. was first established in 1675, but its boundaries 
were definitely settled in 1709-10 and 1713-14. Its extreme length 
is 65, and extreme breadth 32 m. ; it is bounded N. by Raritan bay, 
E. by the Atlantic ocean, SW. by Burlington co., and NW. by Mid- 
dlesex and Mercer cos. The soil is generally light, and the middle 
and southern part mostly covered with pines. The surface is level, 
excepting in the township of Middletown. Agriculture is the chief 
business of the upper part of the county, and there are there many 
farms under the highest state of cultivation. Marl abounds in this 
region, and land, once comparatively valueless, has been rendered 
very productive by this manure. Peat, mixed with a small portion 
of lime, is growing into use in the western part of the county for 
fertilizing the land, and this material, fortunately, is in most cases 
found where most required, viz., without the limits of the marl 
formation. In the central and southern portions of the county, 
there are a few settlements and furnaces scattered among the 
pines. Along the sea-coast are several flourishing villages, from 
which large quantities of wood and charcoal are exported. From 
these places sail many coasting vessels, manned by skilful seamen, 
unsurpassed by any in the Union. This county was originally set- 
tled by Dutch, Scotch, and some New England emigrants, who 
removed here about the year 1664. Twenty years later, it was 
the most wealthy county in the province, and paid the greatest 
amount of taxes. In the war of the revolution it suffered severely. 
Its easy access from New York, and the safe anchorage for vessels 
within Sandy Hook, rendered it a favorite resort of the royalists 
for forage and plunder. Some of its inhabitants were awed into 
submission to the crown, and took up arms against their former 
neighbors, between whom occurred many sanguinary conflicts. 
Within its borders occurred one of the severest battles of the war. 
Monmouth co. is divided into 7 townships, viz : — 

Dover, Howell, Shrewsbury, Upper Freehold. 

Freehold, Middletown, Stafford, 

The population in 1810, was 22,150; in 1820, 25,038; in 1830, 
29,233; in 1840, 32,873. 



DOVER. 

This township was first formed from Shrewsbury, in 1767, and 
incorporated by the state legislature in 1798. It is about 20 m. 



328 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

long, 16 wide, and is bounded N. by Freehold, Upper Freehold, and 
Howell, E. by the Atlantic ocean, S. by Stafford, and W. by Nor- 
thampton and Hanover, Burlington co. There are in the township 
20 stores, 2 furnaces, 2 forges, 4 grist-m., 6 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. $1,900; 10 schools, 824 scholars. Pop. 2,731. 

Along the seashore is a strip of fertile land ; the remaining por- 
tion of the township is covered with pine, oak, maple, and cedar. 
Outside of Barnegat bay, parallel with the coast, Island and Squan 
beach stretch along for about 20 miles. 

The thriving village of Toms River is on both banks of the river 
of the same name, which is crossed by a handsome wooden bridge. 
It is 25 miles S. of Freehold, and contains about 70 dwellings, 5 
mercantile stores, and a Methodist church. The chief business is 
the exportation of cord- wood and timber, in which many coasting 
vessels are engaged. Cedar Creek or Williamsburg, 7 miles S. of 
Toms River, contains about 25 dwellings. Goodluck is a small set- 
tlement about half a mile SW. of the latter. Forked River, 2 miles 
below Goodluck, has about 20 dwellings, a grist-mill, 2 stores, and 
several mechanic shops. Considerable wood and charcoal are ex- 
ported from here. At the Phoenix and Manchester furnaces, in the 
N. part of the township, large quantities of iron have been manu- 
factured. A railroad has lately been constructed from the latter 
place, 9 miles in length, to Toms River. Dover and Farrago fur- 
naces are in the central part. There are saw-mills scattered on 
the various streams by which the township is abundantly watered, 
at which are annually prepared immense quantities of lumber for 
market. 

In the American revolution, a rude fort or blockhouse was erect- 
ed a short distance N. of the bridge, at the village of Toms River, 
on a hill about a hundred yards E. of the road to Freehold, on land 
now belonging to the heirs of Elijah Robins, deceased. In the lat- 
ter part of the war this blockhouse w r as attacked by a superior 
force of the enemy. Its commander, Capt. Huddy, most gallantly 
defended it until his ammunition was expended, and no alternative 
but surrender left. After the little brave garrison was in their 
power, it is said they deliberately murdered five men asking for 
quarters. From thence Capt. Huddy, Justice Randolph, and the 
remaining prisoners, were taken to New York, when, suffering the 
various progressions of barbarity inflicted upon those destined to 
a violent or lingering death, those two gentlemen, with a Mr. Flem- 
ing, were put into the hold of a vessel. Capt. Huddy was ironed 
hand and foot, and shortly after barbarously hanged on the shore at 
the Highlands of Navisink. Annexed is the British account of 
this expedition, taken from Rivington's Royal Gazette : 

The authentic account of the expedition against the rebel post on Toms river, New 
Jersey, under the Honorable Board of Associated Loyalists : 

On Wednesday the 20th inst., [March, 1782,] Lieut. Blanchard, of the armed whale- 
boats, and about eighty men belonging to them, with Capt. Thomas and Lieut. Roberts, 
both of the late Bucks county volunteers, and between thirty and forty other refugee 
loyalists, the whole under the command of Lieut. Blanchard, proceeded to Sandy Hook, 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 329 

under convoy of Capt. Stewart Ross, in the armed brig Arrogant, where they were de- 
tained by unfavorable winds until the 23d. About 12 o'clock on that night, the party 
landed near the mouth of Toms river, and marched to the blockhouse at the town of 
Dover, [now Toms River,] and reached it just at daylight. On their Way they were 
challenged and fired upon, and when they came to the works they found the rebels, con- 
sisting of twenty-five or twenty-six twelve months men and militia, apprized of their com- 
ing, and prepared for defence. 

The post into which they had thrown themselves was about six or seven feet high, 
made with large logs with loop-holes between, and a number of brass swivels on the top, 
which was entirely open, nor was there any way of entering but by climbing over. They 
had, besides swivels, muskets with bayonets, and long pikes for their defence. Lieut. 
Blanchard summoned them to surrender, which they not only refused, but bid the party 
defiance : on which he immediately ordered the place to be stormed, which was accord- 
ingly done, and though defended with obstinacy, was soon carried. The rebels had 
nine men killed in the assault, and twelve made prisoners, two of whom are wounded. 
The rest made their escape in the confusion. Among the killed was a major of the mili- 
tia, two captains, and one lieutenant. The captain of the twelve months men stationed 
there, is amongst the prisoners, who are all brought safe to town. On our side, two 
were killed — Lieut. Iredel, of the armed boatmen, and Lieut. Inslee, of the loyalists, 
both very brave officers, who distinguished themselves on the attack, and whose loss is 
much lamented. Lieut. Roberts and five others are wounded, but it is thought none of 
them are in a dangerous way. 

The Town, as it is called, consisting of about a dozen houses, in which none but a 
piratical set of banditti resided, together with a grist and saw-mill, were with the block- 
house burned to the ground, and an iron cannon spiked and thrown into the river. A 
fine large barge, (called Hyler's barge,) and another boat in which the rebels used to 
make their excursions on the coast, were brought off". Some other attempts were intend- 
ed to have been made, but the appearance of bad weather, and the situation of the 
wounded, being without either surgeon or medicines, induced the party to return to New 
York, where they arrived on the twenty-fifth. 



FREEHOLD. 

This township was incorporated in 1 798. Its extreme length is 23, 
breadth 10 miles. It is bounded NW. by South Amboy and Mon- 
roe, Middlesex co. ; E. by Middletown, Shrewsbury, and Howell ; 
S. by Dover, and W. by Upper Freehold. Its surface is level or un- 
dulating ; soil, sand, loam, and clay. The southern part is covered 
with pines, the northern and middle fertile, abounding in fine farms, 
fertilized by marl of an excellent quality. There are in the town- 
ship 12 stores, 11 grist-m., 11 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $21,165; 
17 schools, 637 scholars. Pop. 6,303. 

Freehold, the seat of justice for Monmouth county, is on a plain 
in the eastern part of the township, slightly elevated above the sur- 
rounding country, and distant from Trenton 30 miles. The village 
is handsomely built, containing many large dwellings with spacious 
grounds, exhibiting evidence of wealth and refinement. It has 4 
hotels, 6 mercantile stores, the county buildings, an academy, 2 
newspaper printing-offices, about 450 inhabitants, and 5 churches, 
viz : 1 Episcopal, 1 Methodist, 1 Reformed Dutch, 1 Presbyterian, 
and 1 Baptist. Of these the Episcopal is the most ancient. It was 
standing in the revolution, and used for barracks by the soldiery. 
Balls, mementoes of those perilous times, have been found buried in 
its walls. This village properly dates its origin from the period 
when the county courts were held here in 1735, and in olden times 

42 



330 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



was known by the appellation of "Monmouth Courthouse." A 
short time after, the first courthouse was erected, just in front of 
the site of the present one, near the street. It was of antique ar- 
chitecture, of wood, had a peaked roof, and the main body of the 
structure was clapboarded with shingles. About the year 1800, 
upon the erection of the present handsome edifice, it was removed 




View of the Courthouse, Freehold. 

across the street, and used as a barn. Some of the original timber 
is now preserved in an outbuilding in the village. The new court- 
house, together with the county offices, are of brick, erected at an 
expense not far from $28,000. This village will' ever be memora- 
ble in American history on account of one of the most sanguinar3 r 
battles of the revolution being fought in its vicinity — the battle of 
Monmouth, June 28th, 1778. 



BATTLE OF MONMOUTH. 
The main army of the Americans, after crossing Coryell's ferry, 
(now Lambertville, Hunterdon co.,) on the 20th and 21st of June, 
proceeded by the way of Hopewell, Rocky Hill, Kingston, and 
Cranberry, and on the 28th overtook, at Monmouth Courthouse, 
the British army, then on their retreat through New Jersey from 
Philadelphia to New York. Annexed is Washington's account of 
the battle, given in a letter to the President of Congress. 

Englishtown, July 1, 1778. 

Sir — I embrace this first moment of leisure to give congress a more full 
and particular account of the movements of the army under my command, 
since its passing the Delaware, than the situation of our affairs would here- 
tofore permit. 

I had the honor to advise them, that on the appearance of the enemy's in- 
tentions to march through Jersey becoming serious, I had detached General 
Maxwell's brigade, in conjunction with the militia of that state, to interrupt 
and impede their progress by every obstruction in their power, so as to give 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 331 

time to the army under my command to come up with them, and take ad- 
vantage of any favorable circumstances that might present themselves. The 
army having proceeded to Coryell's ferry, and crossed the Delaware at that 
place, I immediately detached Col. Morgan, with a select corps of 600 men, 
to reinforce Gen. Maxwell, and marched with the main body toward 
Princeton. 

The slow advances of the enemy had greatly the air of design, and led 
me with many others to suspect that Gen. Clinton, desirous of a general ac- 
tion, was endeavoring to draw us down into the lower country, in order by 
a rapid movement to gain our right, and take possession of the strong ground 
above us. This consideration, and to give the troops time to repose and re- 
fresh themselves from the fatigues they had experienced from rainy and ex- 
cessive hot weather, determined me to holt at Hopewell township, about five 
miles from Princeton, where we remained until the morning of the 25th. 
On the preceding day I made a second detachment of 1,500 chosen troops, 
under Brigadier-general Scott, to reinforce those already in the vicinity of 
the enemy, the more effectually to annoy and delay their march. 

The next day the army moved to Kingston, and having received intelli- 
gence that the enemy were prosecuting their route toward Monmouth 
Courthouse, I dispatched 1,000 select men under Brigadier-general Wayne, 
and sent the Marquis de Lafayette to take the command of the whole of the 
advanced corps, including Maxwell's brigade and Morgan's light-infantry, 
with orders to take the first fair opportunity of attacking the enemy's rear. 
In the evening of the same day the whole army advanced from Kingston, 
where our baggage was left, with intention to preserve a proper distance for 
supporting the advanced corps, and arrived at Cranberry early the next 
morning. The intense heat of the weather, and a heavy storm unluckily 
coming on, made it impossible for us to resume our march that day, without 
great inconvenience and injury to the troops. Our advanced corps being 
differently circumstanced, moved from the position it had held the night be- 
fore, and took post in the evening on the Monmouth road, about five miles 
from the enemy's rear, in the expectation of attacking them the next morn- 
ing on their march. The main body having remained at Cranberry, the ad- 
vanced corps was found to be too remote, and too far upon the right, to be 
supported either in case of an attack upon, or from the enemy, which in- 
duced me to send orders to the marquis to file off by his left toward Eng- 
lishtown, which he accordingly executed early in the morning of the 27th. 

The enemy, in marching from Allentown, had changed their disposition, 
and placed their best troops in the rear ; consisting of all the grenadiers, 
light-infantry, and chasseurs of the line. This alteration made it necessary 
to increase the number of our advanced corps, and in consequence of which 
I detached Major-general Lee, with two brigades, to join the marquis at 
Englishtown, on whom of course the command of the whole devolved, 
amounting to about 5,000 men. The main army marched the same day, 
and encamped within three miles of that place. Morgan's corps was left 
hovering on the enemy's right flank, and the Jersey militia, amounting at 
this time to about 700 or 800 men, under Gen. Dickinson, on their left. 

The enemy were now encamped in a strong position, with their right ex- 
tending about a mile and a half beyond the courthouse, in the parting of the 
road leading to Shrewsbury and Middletown, and their left along the road 
from Allentown to Monmouth, about three miles this side of the courthouse. 
Their right flank lay on the skirt of a small wood, while their left was se- 
cured by a very thick one ; a morass running toward their rear, and their 



332 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

whole front covered by a wood, and to a considerable extent toward the left 
with a morass. In this situation they halted, until the morning of the 28th. 

Matters being thus situated, and having had the best information, that if 
the enemy were once arrived at the heights of Middletown, 10 or 12 miles 
from where they were, it would be impossible to attempt any thing against 
them with a prospect of success, I determined to attack their rear the mo- 
ment they should get in motion from their present ground. I communicated 
my intention to Gen. Lee, and ordered him to make his disposition for the 
attack, and to keep his troops constantly lying upon their arms, to be in 
readiness at the shortest notice. This was done with respect to the troops 
under my immediate command. 

About five in the morning Gen. Dickinson sent an express, informing that 
the front of the enemy had begun their march. I instantly put the army in 
motion, and sent orders by one of my aids to Gen. Lee, to move on and at- 
tack them, unless there should be very powerful reasons to the contrary ; 
acquainting him at the same time that I was marching to support him, and 
for doing it with the greatest expedition and convenience, should make the 
men disencumber themselves of their packs and blankets. 

After marching five miles, to my great surprise and mortification, I met 
the whole advanced corps retreating, and, as I was told, by Gen. Lee's or- 
ders, without having made any opposition, except one fire, given by the par- 
ty under the command of Col. Butler, on their being charged by the enemy's 
cavalry, who were repulsed. I proceeded immediately to the rear of the 
corps, which I found closely pressed by the enemy, and gave directions for 
forming part of the retreating troops, who, by the brave and spirited con- 
duct of the officers, aided by some pieces of well-served artillery, checked 
the enemy's advances, and gave time to make a disposition of the left wing 
and second lines of the army upon an eminence and in a wood a little in 
the rear, covered by a morass in front. On this were placed some batteries 
of cannon, by Lord Stirling, who commanded the left wing, which played 
upon the enemy with great effect, and seconded by parties of infantry de- 
tached to oppose them, effectually put a stop to their advance. 

Gen. Lee being detached with the advanced corps, the command of the 
right wing was given, for the occasion, to Gen. Greene. For the expedi- 
tion of the march, and to counteract any attempt to turn our right, I had 
ordered him to file off by the new church 2 miles from Englishtown, and 
fall into the Monmouth road, a small distance in the rear of the courthouse, 
while the rest of the column moved on directly toward the courthouse. On 
intelligence of the retreat, he marched up, and took up a very advantageous 
position on the right. 

The enemy, by this time finding themselves warmly opposed in front, 
made an attempt to turn our left flank ; but they were bravely repulsed, 
and driven back by detached parties of infantry. They also made a move- 
ment toward our right, with as little success; Gen. Greene having ad- 
vanced a body of troops, with artillery, to a commanding piece of ground, — 
which not only disappointed their design of turning our right, but severely 
enfiladed those in front of the left wing. In addition to this, Gen. Wayne 
advanced with a body of troops, and kept up so severe and well-directed a 
fire, that the enemy were soon compelled to retire behind the defi4e where 
the first stand in the beginning of the action was made. 

In this situation, the enemy had both their flanks secured by thick woods 
and morasses, while their front could only be approached through a narrow 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 333 

pass. I resolved, nevertheless, to attack them, — and for that purpose or- 
dered Gen. Poor, with his own and the Carolina brigade, to move round 
upon their right, and Gen. Woodford upon their left, and the artillery to gall 
them in front ; but the impediments in the way prevented their getting with- 
in reach before it was dark. They remained upon the ground they had 
been directed to occupy, during the night, with intention to begin the attack 
early the next morning ; and the army continued lying upon their arms in 
the field of action, to be ready to support them. In the mean time, the ene- 
my were employed in removing their wounded, and, about 12 o'clock at 
night, marched away in such silence, that, although Gen. Poor lay extreme- 
ly near them, they effected their retreat without his knowledge. They car- 
ried off all their wounded except four officers and about forty privates, whose 
wounds were too dangerous to permit their removal. The extreme heat of 
the weather, the fatigue of the men from their march through a deep, sandy 
country, almost entirely destitute of water, and the distance the enemy had 
gained by marching in the night, made a pursuit impracticable and fruitless. 
It would have answered no valuable purpose, and proved fatal to numbers 
of our men, — several of whom died the preceding day with heat. 

Were I to conclude my account of this day's transactions without ex- 
pressing my obligations to the officers of the army in general, I should do 
injustice to their merit, and violence to my own feelings. They seemed to 
vie with each other in manifesting their zeal and bravery. The catalogue 
of those who distinguished themselves, is too long to admit of particularizing 
individuals. I cannot, however, forbear mentioning Brigadier-general 
Wayne, whose conduct and bravery during the whole action deserve par- 
ticular commendation. The behavior of the troops in general, after they 
recovered from the first surprise occasioned by the retreat of the advanced 
corps, was such as could not be surpassed. 

All the artillery, both officers and men, that were engaged, distinguished 
themselves in a remarkable manner. 

Enclosed, congress will be pleased to receive a return of our killed and 
wounded. Among the first, were Lieut. Col. Bunner, of Pennsylvania, and 
Maj. Dickinson, of Virginia, — both distinguished officers, and much to be 
regretted. The enemy's slain on the field, and buried by us, — according to 
the return of the persons assigned to that duty, — were four officers, and 245 
privates. In the former was the Hon. Col. Monckton. Exclusive of these, 
they buried some themselves, — as there were several new graves near the 
field of battle. How many men they have had wounded, cannot be deter- 
mined ; but, from the usual proportion, the number must have been conside- 
rable. There were a few prisoners taken. 

The peculiar situation of Gen. Lee at this time, requires that I should 
say nothing of his conduct. He is now in arrest. The charges against 
him, with such sentence as the court-martial may decree in his case, shall 
be transmitted, for the approbation or disapprobation of congress, as soon as 
it shall have passed. 

Being fully convinced, by the gentlemen of this country, that the enemy 
cannoi be hurt or injured in their embarkation at Sandy Hook, (the place 
to which they are now moving,) and unwilling to get too far removed 
from the North river, I put the troops in motion early this morning, and 
shall proceed that way, — leaving the Jersey Brigade, Morgan's corps, and 
other light parties, (the militia being all dismissed,) to hover about them, 
countenance desertion, and prevent depredations as far as possible. . After 



334 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

they embark, the former will take post in the neighborhood of Elizabeth- 
town, the latter rejoin the corps from which they were detached. I have the 
honor, &c. G. Washington. 

Return of the killed, wounded, and missing, of the American army, in the battle of 
Monmouth, on the 28th day of June, 1778. 

Killed — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 major, 3 captains, 2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, 52 rank 
and file. 

Wounded — 2 colonels, 8 captains, 4 first lieutenants, 2 second lieutenants, 1 ensign, 1 
adjutant, 8 sergeants, 1 drummer, 120 rank and file. 

Missing — 5 sergeants, 126 rank and file. Some of the missing, dropped through fa- 
tigue and hardship, since come in. 

Artillery. — Killed — 1 first lieutenant, 7 matrosses, 1 bombardier. Wounded — 1 cap- 
tain, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 1 gunner, 10 matrosses. Missing — 1 matross. Six horses 
killed, and two wounded. 

The following is extracted from the General Orders, issued the 
day after the battle of Monmouth, and dated, Head-quarters, Free- 
hold, June 29, 1778 : 

The commander-in-chief congratulates the army on the victory obtained over the arms 
of his Britannic Majesty, and thanks most sincerely the gallant officers and men who 
distinguished themselves upon this occasion, and such others as, by their good order and 
coolness, gave the happiest presage of what might have been expected had they come to 
action. 

Gen. Dickinson, and the militia of this state, are also thanked for their nobleness in 
opposing the enemy on their march from Philadelphia, and for the aid which they have 
given in embarrassing and impeding their motions so as to allow the continental troops 
to come up with them. 

It is with peculiar pleasure the commander-in-chief, in addition to the above, can in- 
form Gen. Knox, and the officers of the artillery, that the enemy have done them the 
justice to acknowledge that no artillery could have been better served than ours 

The following is the British account of the battle of Monmouth, 
given in a letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germaine, 
and published in the London Gazette of Aug. 24th, 1778 : 

New York, July 5th, 1778. 

My Lord : I have the honor to inform your lordship that, pursuant to his majesty's 
instructions, I evacuated Philadelphia on the 18th of June, at three o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and proceeded to Gloucester Point, without being followed by the enemy. Every 
thing from thence being passed in safety across the Delaware, through the excellent dis- 
position made by our admiral to secure our passage, the army marched at ten o'clock, 
and reached Haddonfield the same day. A strong corps of the enemy having, upon our 
approach, abandoned the difficult pass of Mount Holly, the army proceeded, without 
any interruption from them, except by what was occasioned by their having destroyed 
every bridge on our road. As the country is much intersected with marshy rivulets, the ob- 
structions we met with were frequent ; and the excessive heat of the weather rendered 
the labor of repairing the bridges severely felt. 

The advanced parties of our light troops arriving unexpectedly at Crosswicks, on the 
23d, after a trifling skirmish, prevented the enemy from destroying a bridge over a large 
creek at that village; and the army passed it the next morning. One column, under 
the command of his excellency Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen, halted near Imlay's town ; 
and as the provision train and heavy artillery were stationed in that division, the other 
column, under Lieut. Gen. Earl Cornwallis, took a position at Allen's town, which cov- 
ered the other encampment. Thus far, my lord, my march pointed equally toward Hud- 
son river and Staten Island, by the Raritan. I was now at the juncture when it was 
necessary to decide ultimately what course to pursue. Encumbered as I was by an 
enormous provision train, &c, to which impediment the probability of obstructions and 
length of my march obliged me to submit, I was led to wish for a route less liable to ob- 
stacles than those above mentioned. 

I had received intelligence that Gen. Washington and Lee had passed the Dela- 
ware, with their army, had assembled a numerous militia, from all the neighboring prov- 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 335 

inces ; and that Gates, with an army from the northward, was advancing to join them 
on the Raritan. As I could not hope that, after having always hitherto so studiously 
avoided a general action, they would now give in to it, against every dictate of policy, 
I could only suppose his views were directed against my baggage, &c, in which part I 
was indeed vulnerable. This circumstance alone would have tempted me to avoid the 
difficult passage of the Raritan ; but when I reflected that from Sandy Hook I should 
be able, with more expedition, to carry his majesty's further orders into execution, I did 
not hesitate to order the army into the road which leads through Freehold to the Navi- 
sink. The approach of the enemy's army being denoted by the frequent appearance of 
their light troops on our rear, I requested his excellency Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen to take 
the baggage of the whole army under the charge of his division, consisting of the troops 
mentioned in the margin.* Under the head of baggage was comprised not only all the 
wheel-carriages, of every department, but also the bat-horses ; a train which, as the 
country admitted but of one route for carriages, extended near twelve miles. The indis- 
pensable necessity I was under of securing these is obvious, and the difficulty of doing 
it, in a most woody country, against an army far superior in numbers, will, I trust, be no 
less so. 

I desired Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen to move at daybreak, on the 28th ; and that I might 
not press upon him, in the first part of the march, in which we had but one route, I did 
not follow him with the other divisiont until near eight o'clock. Soon after I had 
marched, reconnoitering parties of the enemy appeared on our left flank. The Queen's 
Rangers fell in with and dispersed some detachments, among the woods, in the same 
quarter. Our rear-guard having descended from the heights, above Freehold, into a plain 
near three miles in length, and about one mile in breadth, several columns of the enemy 
appeared likewise descending into the plain ; and about ten o'clock they began to cannonade 
our rear. Intelligence was this moment brought me that the enemy were discovered 
marching in force on both our flanks. I was convinced that our baggage was their 
object ; but it being in this juncture engaged in the defiles, which continued for some 
miles, no means occurred of parrying the blow, but attacking the corps which harassed 
our rear, and pressing it so hard as to oblige the detachments to return from our flanks 
to its assistance. 

I had good information that Gen. Washington was up with his whole army, esti- 
mated at about 20,000 ; but as I knew there were two defiles between him and the corps 
at which I meant to strike, I judged that he could not have passed them with a 
greater force than what Lord Cornwallis's division was well able to engage ; and had 
I even met his whole army in the passage of those defiles, I had but little to apprehend 
but his situation might have been critical. 

The enemy's cavalry, commanded, it is said, by M. Lafayette, having approached 
our reach, they were charged, with great spirit, by the Queen's Light Dragoons. They 
did not wait the shock, but fell back, in confusion, upon their own infantry. 

Thinking it possible that the event might draw to a general action, I sent for a 
brigade of British, and the 17th Light Dragoons, from Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen's division ; 
and having directed them, on their arrival, to take a position effectually covering our 
right flank, of which I was most jealous, I made a disposition of attack on the plain. 
But before I could advance, the enemy fell back, and took a strong position on the 
heights above Freehold courthouse. The heat of the weather was intense, and our men 
already suffered severely from fatigue. But our circumstances obliged us to make a 
vigorous exertion. The British Grenadiers, with their left to the village of Freehold, 
and the Guards on the right of the Grenadiers, began the attack with such spirit, that 
the enemy gave way immediately. The second line of the enemy stood the attack with 
greater obstinacy, but was likewise completely routed. They then took a third position, 
with a marshy hollow in front, over which it would have been scarcely possible to have 
attacked them. However, part of the second line made a movement to the front, occu- 
pied some ground on the enemy's left flank, and the Light Infantry and Queen's Ran- 
gers turned their left. 

By this time our men were so overpowered with fatigue, that I could press the affair 

* 17th Light Dragoons, 2d battalion of Light Infantry, Hessian Yagers, 1st and 2d 
brigades British, Stern's and Loo's brigades of Hessians, Pennsylvania Loyalists, West 
Jersey Volunteers, Maryland Loyalists. 

t 16th Light Dragoons, 1st battalion of British Grenadiers, 2d ditto, 1st battalion 
of Light Infantry, Hessian Grenadiers, Guards, 3d, 4lh, 5th brigades British. 



336 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



no further ; especially as I was confident the end was gained for which the attack had 
been made. 

I ordered the Light Infantry to rejoin me, but a strong detachment of the enemy 
having possessed themselves of a post which would have annoyed them in their retreat, 
the 33d regiment made a movement toward the enemy ; which, with a similar one made 
by the first Grenadiers, immediately dispersed them. 

I took the position from which the enemy had been first driven, after they had quitted 
the plain ; and having reposed the troops until ten at night, to avoid the excessive heat 
of the day, I took advantage of the moonlight to rejoin Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen, who 
had advanced to Nut Swamp, near Middletown. 

Our baggage had been attempted by some of the enemy's light troops, who were re- 
pulsed by the good dispositions made by Lieut. Gen. Knyphausen and Maj. Gen. Grant, 
and the good countenance of the 40th regiment, whose piquets alone were attacked, 
and one troop of the 17th Light Dragoons. The two corps which had marched against 
it (being, as I since learn, a brigade on each flank) were recalled, as I had suspected, 
at the beginning of the action. 

It would be sufficient honor to the troops to barely say, that they had forced a corps, 
as I am informed, of near 12,000 men, from two strong positions ; but it will, I doubt 
not, be considered doubly creditable when I mention they did it under such disadvan- 
tages of heat and fatigue, that a great part of those we lost fell dead as they ad- 
vanced. 

Fearing that my order had miscarried, before I quitted the ground I sent a second, 
for a brigade of infantry, the 17th Light Dragoons, and the 2d battalion of Light In- 
fantry, to meet on the march, to which additional force had Gen. Washington shown 
himself the next day, I was determined to attack him ; but there being not the least 
appearance of an enemy, I suspected he might have passed a considerable corps to a 
strong position, near Middletown ; I therefore left the rear-guard on its march, and de- 
tached Maj. Gen. Grant to take post there, which was effected on the 29th. The whole 
army marched to this position the next day, and then fell back to another, near Navi- 
sink ; where I waited two days, in the hope that Mr. Washington might have been 
tempted to advance to the position near Middletown, which we had quitted ; in which 
case I might have attacked him to advantage. 

During this time the sick and wounded were embarked, and preparations made for 
passing to Sandy Hook island, by a bridge, which by the extraordinary labors of the 
men was soon completed, and over which the whole army passed, in about two hours' 
time ; the horses and cattle having been previously transported. 

Your lordship will receive herewith a return of the killed, wounded, missing, &c, of 
his majesty's troops, on the 28th of last month. That of the enemy is supposed to have 
been more considerable, especially in killed. 

The loss of Lieut. Col. Monckton, who commanded the 2d battalion of Grenadiers, 
is much to be lamented. 

I am much indebted to Lord Cornwallis for his zealous services, on every occasion ; 
and I found great support from the activity of Maj. Gen. Grey, Brig. Gens. Matthew, 
Leslie, and Sir William Erskine. 

I beo- leave to refer your lordship, for any other particulars which you may wish to 
be informed of, to Col. Patterson, who will have the honor of delivering these dis- 
patches, and whose services in this country entitle him to every mark of your lordship's 
favor. 

I have the honor to be, &c. H. CLINTON. 



Return of the killed, wounded, missing, <J-c, of the troops under the command of Gen. 
Sir Henry Clinton, in an engagement with the Rebel army, on the heights of Free- 
hold, Monmouth county, New Jersey, the 28th of June, 1778. 

Total British. — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 56 rank and 
file killed ; 3 sergeants, 45 rank and file died with fatigue ; 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant. col- 
onel, 1 major, 7 captains, 5 lieutenants, 7 sergeants, 137 rank and file wounded; 7 ser- 
geants, 61 rank and file missing. 

Total Germax. — 1 rank and file killed, 11 rank and file died with fatigue, 11 rank 
and file wounded. 

General Total. — 1 lieutenant-colonel, 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 4 sergeants, 57 rank 
and file killed ; 3 sergeants, 56 rank and file died with fatigue ; 1 colonel, 1 lieutenant- 
colonel, 1 major, 7 captains, 5 lieutenants, 7 sergeants, 148 rank and file wounded ; 7 
sergeants, 61 rank and file missing 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 337 

Names and rank of the officers returned, killed and wounded, on the 28th of June, 1778. 
Royal Artillery — Lieut. Vaughan, killed. 1st Grenadiers — Capt. Gore, of the 5th com- 
pany, killed. 2d Grenadiers — Lieut. Col. Hon. H. Monckton, of the 5th company, (com- 
manding the battalion ;) Lieut. Kenedy, of the 44th company, killed. 1st Grenadiers — 
Capt. Cathcart, of the 15th company; Capt. Bereton, of the 17th company; Captain 
Willis, of the 23d company, wounded. 2d Grenadiers — Major Gardner, of the 10th 
company ; Capt. Leighton, of the 46th company ; Capt. Powell, of the 52d company ; 
Lieut. Gilchrist, of the 42d company ; Lieut. Kelly, of the 44th company ; Lieut. Pau- 
mier, of the 45th company ; Lieut. Goroffe, of the 52d company, wounded. Foot 
Guards — Col. Trelawney, Capt. Bellue, wounded. 15th Regiment — Capt. Ditmas, (at- 
tached to the 2d Grenadiers,) wounded. Marines — Lieut. Dcsborough, (attached to the 
2d Grenadiers,) wounded. Queen's American Rangers — Lieut. Col. Simcoe, wounded. 

H. CLINTON. 



The annexed account of the battle of Monmouth is translated 
for this work from a French publication, entitled " Historical and 
Political Essays on the North American Revolution, by M. Milliard 
d'Auberteuil. Published at Brussels and Paris, 1782." The ac- 
companying plan of the battle is reduced from one in this work. 

Having arrived at the heights of Princeton on the 23d, Washington sent a new de- 
tachment, under the command of Marquis de Lafayette, to harass the enemy during their 
march ; but this detachment being too feeble and incompetent to undertake more than 
light skirmishes, he forwarded a considerable reinforcement. The M. de Lafayette was 
to keep command of these united bodies of troops, which were destined to pursue the 
English in their march to Amboy, and hold them in check until Gen. Washington should 
arrive with the main body of the army ; but Charles Lee, just delivered from imprison- 
ment, had rejoined the camp, and availing himself of his seniority, claimed his right to 
command. Instead of endeavoring to cut off the English army in its passage, he made 
only a feeble movement to gain the advance of the enemy near a small piece of woods, 
a little below the village of Monmouth Courthouse, where the English army had passed 
the night of the 27th of June. At this time the English column, deploying itself on the 
left, detached a party of dragoons to advance to the right of the Americans, who left 
the woods, and opened a discharge from two batteries of cannon, which they had ad- 
vantageously stationed. Soon the American troops began to withdraw, and to bury 
themselves in the woods, from which they emerged in four columns, 1,200 paces above 
their first position. They stationed two batteries within 300 paces of those of the ene- 
my ; two bodies of troops formed to the right of these batteries, but their timid orders 
obliged them to retire without a discharge. The other brigades, which were beyond the 
village, retreated almost as quickly, without waiting for the enemy, and stopped at a dis- 
tance of 300 paces, between two woods, in a position which they soon abandoned, to 
throw themselves into a wood on the left. They were there vigorously attacked by the 
English, and retreated still further, leaving behind them an advantageous position, from 
which the English could not have driven them, without traversing a deep ravine, the 
passage of which could be commanded by two pieces of cannon. It is not easy to see 
the occasion of so many successive retreats, — so many multiplied mistakes. A panic 
appears to have seized the detachment under Gen. Lee, or rather the general himself. 
At length Washington arrived, and courage began to revive : the troops rallied in a po- 
sition less favorable than most of those which they had abandoned, and there sustained 
a discharge from the English infantry ; and Col. Stuart, with two pieces of cannon, dis- 
persed the dragoons who made an attack upon them. 

We can well imagine the indignation of Washington, on learning the disorders which 
occurred before his arrival. Astonished at so many precipitate retreats, he hastened to 
place the troops of Lee's detachment in the rear of two lines, which he formed on a 
neighboring eminence. Observing that the English infantry were preparing to make an 
attack on the left, commanded by Lord Stirling, he stationed there a battery, which told 
so well that the enemy was obliged to rally in turn. Gen. Geene led the right ; a battery 
of six pieces of cannon, under command of Chevalier Plessis Mauduit, was stationed at 
500 paces in advance, on the right, taking the English on the flank, and for.-ed them, af- 
ter two hours of incessant firing, to retreat a second time, whilst the corps detached by 
Gen. Washington attacked them in front with great success. Thrice they rallied ; thrice 
they were repulsed ; finally they were compelled to quit the field, and in their flight to re- 

43 



338 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



P L A N 



THE BATTLE OF MONMOUTH, 

Where General Washington commanded the 

American army, and. General Clinton the 

English army, 

June 28th, 177:. 



Position occupied by the English on the eve of the 
battle. 

English column deploying itself to the left, from which 
were detached the dragoons, to take a position on 
the right of the American columns, which were de- 
bouching (or emerging) from the woods. 

First battery of the English, which discharged while 
deploying. 

Debouchement of the 1st brigade of the detachment 

of Gt'iu Lee, stationed in the woods, where the 

the detachment debouched in four columns. 



Debouchement of the four columns. 
Second battery of the English. 



6-7 Firs*, and second batteries of the Americans. 

S Troops formed at the right of the batteries 6 and 7, 
which were ordered to retire without discharging. 

9 Village of Monmouth, containing the courthouse. 

10 Troops formed before Monmouth, which withdrew 

without waiting for the enemy. 

11 First position occupied by all the troops under com- 

mand of Gen. Lee, where they did not wait for the 
attack, and from which they threw themselves into 
the woods on the left. 

12 Fierce attack of the English on the troops thrown into 

the woods during the retreat from position 11. 

13 Second position occupied by the rest of the troops, 

and from which they withdrew when charged by 
the Enelish dragoons, which were afterwards dis- 
persed by Col. Stuart. 

14 Point from which debouched a body of English, hav- 

ing fired on the rest of the troops which still occu- 
pied position 13. 

15 Po-ition taken by the troops on retiring from point 13, 

and from which Gen. Washington took them behind 
the line which he had just formed at point 16. 

16 Position which Gen. Washington occupied by the 

troops which came to support Gen. Lee's detach- 
ment. 

17 English column which advanced to attack the left, 

and withdrew after recoDnoitering. 

18 Battery of six pieces, commanded by Chevalier du 

Plessis Mauduit, and supported by 500 men. 

19 Position occupied by the Enelieh troops withdrawn 

from points 14 and 17, and from which they were 
repulsed with great loss. 

20 Station occupied by the English after having been 

driven from point 19. 

21 New position token by the English when Washington 

attacked them, and from which also they were re- 
pulsed. 

22 Final position of the English, where they passed the 

night. 




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MONMOUTH COUNTY. 339 

pass the same ravine which Gen. Lee had not been able to defend. At a moderate dis- 
tance they halted, still preserving their front. Washington pursued them in good order, 
and directed two brigades to advance on each of their flanks. This last attack resulted 
like the preceding, but night came on, and interrupted the victory. 

Clinton availed himself of the darkness, not choosing to wait for the hazards of the 
morrow ; he hastened his march toward the road for Amboy, leaving the Americans 
masters of the battle-field, covered with wounded and dead. The Germans were so ex- 
hausted by fatigue and the heat, that many were found dead who had received no wound. 
Col. Monckton was slain. It was said that, at the last, Sir Henry Clinton left, on the 
field, a sack, containing a letter to Gen. Washington, recommending the wounded to his 
humanity. The number of English killed in this combat was as great as 300 ; and this 
loss was the more important, because Clinton had commenced his attack with veteran 
grenadiers and light-infantry. Yet the objects aimed at by Washington were still unac- 
complished ; his victory still uncertain. He wished to prevent Clinton from passing be- 
yond Monmouth and re-embarking, but his intentions were frustrated, and although he 
had gained the victory, he could not reap from it any advantage. On the other hand, 
Clinton, although vanquished and flying, had secured all he had promised to himself. 
Washington had accomplished all that his valor and skill could effect, but the fate of the 
day was compromised before he reached the field of battle. There was great complaint 
against Gen. Lee ; he was even accused of having bargained with the English while he 
was their prisoner ; his conduct was examined by a court-martial, whose decision, being 
confirmed by an act of congress, obliged him to leave the service. 



The following incidents relating to the battle, were mainly de- 
rived from conversation with the venerable Dr. Samuel Forman, 
now residing near Freehold, who was on the battle-field the day- 
after the action. His father, Mr. David Forman, and Mr. Peter 
Wikoff, acted as guides to Washington, and testified to his extra- 
ordinary coolness and presence of mind amid the exciting scenes 
of the engagement. We have also drawn a map from personal 
observation, giving the roads and other localities as at the pres- 
ent day, together with the most important positions of the two ar- 
mies as fixed by tradition. 

The action commenced in the morning after breakfast, in the 
vicinity of Briar Hill, (A. see map,) distant a half or three quarters 
of a mile beyond the courthouse. From thence the Americans 
under Lee slowly retreated before the enemy about three miles, 
until they came in the vicinity of the parsonage, (P.) where a final 
stand was made, and the principal action fought. Here Washing- 
ton met Lee in the field immediately north of this dwelling, and 
riding up to him, with astonishment asked, " What is the meaning 
of this ?" * Lee being somewhat confused, and not distinctly under- 
standing the question, replied, " Sir! sir!" Washington the second 
time said, " What is all that confusion for, and retreat ?"f Lee re- 

* This conversation has been variously stated in different accounts, and Weems's Life 
of Washington imputes grossly insulting language to Lee. That given above is from 
the testimony of Capt. Mercer and others, taken from the printed proceedings of the 
General Court Martial, on the trial of Lee. 

t Lieut. Col. Brookes, in his testimony at the trial, says, " On Washington's coming up 
to Lee, he said, " What is the meaning of all this ?" Lee answered, the contradictory 
intelligence, and his orders not being obeyed, was the reason of his finding them in that 
situation. His Excellency, showing considerable warmth, said he was sorry Gen. Lee 
undertook the command, unless he meant to fight the enemy, (or words to that effect.) 
Gen. Lee observed that it was his private opinion it was not for the interests of America 
or the army, (I cannot say winch,) to have a general action, but notwithstanding was 



340 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



plied, "He saw no confusion but what arose from his orders not be- 
ing properly obeyed." Washington mentioned that " he had cer- 
tain information that it was but a strong covering party of the ene- 
my." Lee answered, " It might be so, but they were rather stronger 



•** 







Cliurcli B 




PLAN 

OF THE 

BATTLE OF MONMOUTH, 

Fought Sunday, June 28, 1778. 

REFERENCES. 

S. Road to Shrewsbury. 
M. do. " Middletown. 
A. Briar Hill. 
C. Road to Allentown. 

E. Washington's main body. 
H. Comb's Hill. 

W. Advanced corps of Americans under 

Wayne. 
P. Parsonage. 
G. Fence. 

F. British main army. 

I. Encampment of do. on the night after 

the action. 
L. Forest now standing. 



than he was, and that he did not think it proper to risk so much," 
or words to that effect. Washington said, " You should not have 
undertaken it," and then passed by him. Shortly after, Washington 
again met him, and asked " if he would take command there ; if 
not, he (Washington) would ; if Gen. Lee would take command 
there, he would return to the main army and arrange it." Lee re- 
plied, that "his Excellency had before given him the command 
there." Washington told him he expected he would take proper 
measures for checking the enemy there. Lee replied that his or- 
ders should be obeyed, and that he would not be the first to leave 

the field ; and Washington then rode to the main army 

Immediately after this, Col. Hamilton, in great heat, rode up to Lee, 
and said, " I will stay here with you, my dear general, and die with 
you ; let us all die here rather than retreat" 

willing to obey his orders at all times ; but in the situation he had been in, he thought it 
by no means warrantable to bring on an action, or words to that effect. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 341 

When the action had become general, the British army occupied 
the eminence east of the brook, somewhere in the vicinity of F., 
then covered by an apple orchard. The main body of Washington's 
army were stationed at E. E., on land considerably lower than the 
enemy. An advanced corps of the Americans under Wayne was on 
high ground, nearly as much elevated as that of the British at W., 
close by a barn (now down) about twelve rods back of the parson- 
age, while a park of artillery were on Comb's Hill, (H.) a height 
commanding that occupied by the enemy. 

The British grenadiers several times crossed the fence, (G.) and 
advanced toward the barn, but were as often driven back by the 
fire of the troops stationed there, and the artillery from Comb's 
Hill. At length Col. Monckton, their leader, made to them a spirit- 
ed address, which was distinctly heard by the Americans at the 
barn and parsonage, distant only twenty or thirty rods. They then 
advanced in beautiful order, as though on parade. Such was the 
regularity of their march, that it is said a cannon ball from Comb's 
Hill disarmed a whole platoon. As they approached within a few 
rods of the barn, Wayne ordered his men to pick out the officers ; 
they thereupon poured in a terrible fire, when almost every Brit- 
ish officer fell, among whom was their leader, the gallant Col. 
Monckton. The spot near where he was killed is marked to the 
present day by an oak stump in the ploughed field about eight rods 
NE. of the parsonage. A desperate hand to hand straggle then 
occurred for the possession of his body, in which the Americans 
finally succeeded, and the grenadiers were driven back, and did not, 
it is believed, again advance beyond the fence. At night the ene- 
my encamped for a few hours behind the woods L. L., in the vicin- 
ity of I., and after the moon had set, secretly retreated towards the 
highlands of Navisink. During the action, Morgan lay with his 
corps at Richmond's (now Shumar's) mills, three miles south of the 
courthouse, where he had for guides Col. Joseph Haight, Tunis and 
Samuel Forman. For some unknown reason he did not partici- 
pate in the events of the day. He was waiting for orders in an 
agony of indecision, walking to and fro for hours within sound of 
the conflict, uncertain what course to pursue. Had he received 
directions to attack the enemy in rear with his fresh troops, when 
exhausted by fatigue and heat, their whole army might have been 
taken. 

Comparatively few of the Americans were killed on the west 
side of the brook ; those in the vicinity of the barn suffered severe- 
ly. The most desperate part of the conflict was in the vicinity of 
where Monckton fell. There the British grenadiers lay in heaps 
like sheaves on a harvest-field. Our informant states that they 
dragged the corpses by the heels to shallow pits dug for the pur- 
pose, and slightly covered them with earth ; he saw thirteen buried 
in one hole. For many years after, their graves were indicated by 
the luxuriance of the vegetation. Among the enemy's dead was a 
sergeant of grenadiers, designated as the " high sergeant." He was 



342 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

the tallest man in the British army, measuring seven feet and four 
inches in height. 

The day was unusually hot even for the season, and both armies 
suffered severely : the British more than the Americans, because 
in their woollen uniforms, and burdened with their knapsacks and 
accoutrements, while the latter were divested of their packs and 
superfluous clothing. The tongues of great numbers were - 
swollen as to render them incapable of speaking. Many of both 
armies perished solely from heat, and after the battle were seen 
dead upon the field without mark or wound, under trees and beside 
the rivulet, where they had crawled for shade and water. The 
countenances of the dead became so blackened as to render it im- 
possible to recognize individuals. Several houses in Freehold were 
filled with the wounded of the enemy, left on their retreat in the 
care of their surgeons and nurses. Every room in the courthouse 
was tilled. They lay on the floor, on straw, and the supplications 
of" the wounded and the moans of the dying presented a scene of 
wo. As fast as they died, their corpses were promiscuously thrown 
into a pit on the site of the present residence of Dr. Throckmorton, 
and slightly covered with earth. 

The story of a woman who rendered essential service to the 
Americans in the battle is founded on fact. She was a female of 
masculine mould, and dressed in a mongrel suit, with the petticoats 
of her own sex and an artillery-man's coat, cocked hat and feath- 
ers. The anecdote usually related is as follows. Before the armies 
engaged in general action, two of the advanced batteries com- 
menced a severe fire against each other. As the heat was exces- 
sive. Molly, who was the wife of a cannonier, constantly ran to 
bring her husband water from a neighboring spring. While pass- 
ing to his post she saw him fall, and on hastening to his a><i>t- 
ance, found him dead. At the same moment she heard an officer 
order the cannon to be removed from its place, complaining he 
could not fill his post with as brave a man as had been killed. 
" ?\ o." said the intrepid Molly, fixing her eyes upon the officer. " the 
cannon shall not be removed for the want of some one to serve it ; 
since my brave husband is no more, I will use my utmost exertions 
to avenge his death." The activity and courage with which she 
performed the office of cannonier, during the action, attracted the 
attention of all who witnessed it. and finally of Washington himself, 
who afterward gave her the rank of lieutenant, and granted her 
half-pay during fife. She wore an epaulette, and was called ever 
after Captain Molly. 

Among the American wounded was Lieut. Tallman. He was 
shot through the throat, and crawled behind the barn to die. Two 
soldiers came to his relief; he told them to let him alone, as he had 
but a few minutes to live. They lifted him from the ground, and 
were retreating with him across the orchard in the rear of the par- 
sonage, when a musket-ball passing through the hat of one of them, 
he hastily abandoned his charge, and ran away. The other sup- 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 343 

- ported him to the dwelling of a Mr. Cook, in the vicinity ; where 
\ also was carried another wounded officer, Capt. Nealey. They 
were both confined a long time, and received the kindest treatment 
from the family. Between the latter officer and a daughter of Mr. 
Cook, who had assiduously attended upon him, arose a romantic 
attachment, finally resulting in marriage. Capt. Cook, of the Vir- 
ginia corps, was shot through the lungs. He was ordered by his 
surgeon not to speak. An officer came into the room, and on his 
not answering a question, went out and reported him dead. Upon 
this intelligence, Washington ordered a coffin to be placed under 
his window. This officer recovered, lived several years after, and 
was a frequent visitor at the residence of a gentleman now living 
near Freehold. 

Among the officers of artillery was Col. David Ray, of whom 
we introduce the following amusing anecdote. In the morning, 
Ray, somewhat in advance of a militia regiment, observed a Brit- 
ish dragoon leave his ranks and come toward him. As he ap- 
proached, Ray perceived he was mounted on an elegant horse, and 
as his own was an indifferent steed, he determined to possess him- 
self of it. When within 50 or 60 yards, Ray, who was an excel- 
lent shot, felt perfectly sure of the horse, and deliberately drawing 
a pistol, coolly aimed and fired at the rider, but without effect. He 
fired the other pistol, and that too missed. The trooper was now 
within a few yards, dashing toward him at a furious speed, his 
eyes flashing vengeance, and sword uplifted for the fatal blow. 
There was no time for further ceremony. The colonel abruptly 
wheeled, put spurs to his horse, and galloped to a barn, the dra- 
goon after him. Around the barn, and through one g!oor and out 
at the other, went both pursuer and pursued. Ray galloped for 
safety to the regiment, passed in front, the trooper still at his heels. 
More than 100 muskets were discharged at him, but he escaped 
unharmed, galloped back to his regiment, and was seen to take his 
place in line. The colonel, in giving this incident tc our informant, 
laughed heartily, declaring he "never saw such a daring fellow." 

The following anecdote, extracted from a French work, reflects 
eredit upon the humanity and forbearance of the British command- 
er. A general officer of the American arm}- advanced with a 
score of men under the English batteries to reconnoitre their po- 
sition. His aid-de-camp, struck by a ball, fell at his side. The 
officers and orderly dragoons fled precipitately. The general, 
though under the fire of the cannon, approached the wounded 
man to see if he had any signs of life remaining, or whether any 
aid could be afforded him. Finding the wound had been mortal, 
he turned away his head with emotion, and slowly rejoined the 
group who had got out of the reach of the pieces. General Clin- 
ton knew that the Marquis de Lafayette generally rode a white 
horse ; it was upon a white horse the officer who retired so slowly 
was mounted ; Clinton desired the gunners not to fire. This noble 
forbearance probably saved M. de Lafayette's life, for he it was. 



344 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

The annexed account of the depredations of the British army, 
when in this county, was communicated to the Jersey Gazette, a 
short time after the battle of Monmouth. It is supposed to have 
been written by Col. Thomas Henderson, an intelligent and active 
friend of the American cause. His dwelling was among those 
burnt. He was a member of congress after the adoption of the 
constitution, and vice-president of the council of New Jersey at 
the time of Shay's insurrection, and was acting governor when 
Gov. Howell was absent in Pennsylvania with some Jersey troops. 

I have been waiting- from the time the enemy passed through this country till the 
present, in expectation some of your correspondents would, through the channel of your 
paper, have given to the public an account of their conduct to the inhabitants ; but not 
having seen any as yet, and as it has been such as every honest person ought to despise, 
I take this opportunity of giving a short sketch of it, which, if you think will be any 
satisfaction to your readers, you may insert in your paper. 

The devastation they have made in some parts of Freehold exceeds, perhaps, any they 
have made for the distance in their route through this state ; having, in the neighborhood 
above the courthouse, burnt and destroyed eight dwelling-houses, all on farms adjoining 
each other, besides barns and outhouses. The first they burnt was my own, then Ben- 
jamin Covenhoven's, George Walker's, Hannah Solomon's, Benjamin Van Cleave's, Da- 
vid Covenhoven's, and Garrit Vandervccr's ; John Benham's house and barn they wan- 
tonly tore and broke down so as to render them useless. It may not be improper to ob- 
serve that the two first houses mentioned burnt, adjoined the farm, and were in full view 
of the place where Gen. Clinton was quartered. In the neighborhood below the court- 
house, they burnt the houses of Matthias Lane, Cornelius Covenhoven, John Antonidas, 
and one Emmons ; these were burnt the morning before their defeat. Some have the 
effrontery to say, that the British officers by no means countenance or allow of burning. 
Did not the wanton burning of Charleston and Kingston, in Esopus, besides many other 
instances, sufficiently evince to the contrary, I think their conduct in Freehold may. 
The officers have been seen to exult at the sight of the flames, and heard to declare they 
could never conquer America until they burnt every rebel's house, and murdered man, 
woman, and child. Besides, this consideration has great weight with me towards con- 
firming the above, that, after their defeat, through a retreat of 25 miles, in which they 
passed the houses of a number well-affected to their country, they never attempted to 
destroy one. Thus much for their burning. 

To enter into a minute detail of the many insults and abuses those inhabitants met 
with that remained in their houses, would take up too much room in your paper ; I shall, 
therefore, content myself with giving you an account of Gen. Clinton's conduct to one 
of my neighbors, a woman of 70 years of age, and unblemished reputation, with whom 
he made his quarters. After he had been for some time in her house, and taking notice 
that most of the goods were removed, he observed that she need not have sent off her 
effects for safety, that he would have secured her, and asked if the goods could not be 
brought back again. The old lady objected, but upon the repeated assurance of Gen. 
Clinton, in person, that they should be secured for her, she consented, and sent a person 
lie had ordered, along with a wagon, to show where they were secreted. When the goods 
were brought to the door, which was in the latter part of the day, the old lady* applied 
to Gen. Clinton in person for permission to have them brought in and taken care of, but 
he refused, and ordered a guard set over the goods. The morning following, the old lady 
finding most of her goods plundered and stolen, applied again to him for leave to take 
care of the remainder. He then allowed her to take care of some trifling articles, which 
were all she saved, not having (when I saw her, and had the above information from 
her) a change of dress for herself, or husband, or scarcely for any of her family. With 
regard to personal treatment, she was turned out of her bedroom and obliged to lie with 
her wenches, either on the floor, without bed or bedding, in an entry exposed to the pass- 
ing or repassing of all, &,c, or sit in a chair in a milk-room, too bad for any of the offi- 
cers to lie in, else it is probable she would have been deprived of that also. If the first 
officers of the British army are so divested of honor and humanity, what may we not 
expect from the soldiery ? 

* This lady was Mrs. William Conover. She resided two miles west of the court- 
house, on the Burlington road. — Compilers Hist. Coll. N. J. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 345 

The annexed incident, which occurred in Freehold, in the war 
of the revolution, evinces an act of bravery in a mere youth, that 
renders it worthy of record. 

On a fine morning in May, 1780, as the family of Mr. David 
Forman, sheriff of the county, were at breakfast, a soldier almost 
out of breath suddenly burst into the room, and stated, that as he 
and another soldier were conducting to the courthouse two men, 
taken up on suspicion at Colt's Neck, they had knocked down his 
comrade, seized his musket, and escaped. The sheriff, on hearing 
this relation, immediately mounted his horse, and galloped to the 
Courthouse to alarm the guard. His son Tunis, a lad of about 17, 
and small of his age, seized a musket, loaded only with small shot 
to kill blackbirds in the corn-fields, and putting on a cartridge-box, 
dispatched his brother Samuel* upstairs for the bayonet, and then, 
without waiting for it, hurried off alone in the pursuit. 

After running in a westerly direction about a mile, he discovered 
the men sitting on a fence, who, on perceiving him, ran into a 
swamp. As the morning was warm, he hastily pulled off his coat 
and shoes, and dashed in after them, keeping close upon them for 
over a mile, when they got out of the swamp, and each climbed 
into separate trees. As he came up, they discharged at him the 
musket taken from the guard. The ball whistled over his head. 
He felt for his bayonet, and, at that moment, perceived that, in his 
haste, it was left behind. He then pointed his gun at the man with 
the musket, but deemed it imprudent to fire, reflecting, even if he 
killed him, his comrade could easily master such a stripling as him- 
self. He compelled the man to throw down the musket, by threat- 
ening him with death if he did not instantly comply. Then, loading 
the prize from his cartridge-box, he forced his prisoners down from 
the trees, and, armed with his two loaded muskets, he drove them 
toward the courthouse, careful, however, to keep them far apart, 
to prevent conversation. Passing by a spring, they requested per- 
mission to drink. 

" No !" replied the intrepid boy, understanding their design. 
" You can do as well without it as myself ; you shall have some 
by and by." 

Soon after, his father, at the head of a party of soldiers in the 
pursuit, galloped past in the road within a short distance. Tunis 
hallooed, but the clattering of their horses' hoofs drowned his voice. 
At length he reached the village, and lodged his prisoners in the 
county prison. 

It was subsequently discovered that these men, whose names 
were John and Robert Smith, were brothers, from near Philadelphia, 
that they had robbed and murdered a Mr. Boyd, a collector of taxes 
in Chester co., and, when taken, were on their way to join the 
British. As they had been apprehended on suspicion merely of 

* Now Dr. Samuel Forman of Freehold, from whose lips the compilers had the nar- 
ration. 

44 



346 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



being refugees, no definite charge could then be brought against 
them. A few days after, SheritF Forman saw an advertisement 
in a Pennsylvania paper, describing them, with the facts above- 
mentioned, and a reward of 820,000 (continental money) offered for 
their apprehension. He, accompanied by his son, took them on 
there, where they were tried and executed. On entering Phila- 
delphia, young Tunis was carried through the streets in triumph 
upon the shoulders of the military. In the latter part of the war, 
this young man became very active, and was the peculiar favorite 
of Gen. David Forman. He died within the last ten years. 




Ancient Church near Englishtown. 

Gen. David Forman, above alluded to, was born near English- 
town, in this township. In the war, he was the most influential 
man in the county, commanded the Jersey troops at the battle of 
Germantown, and was high in the confidence of Washington. 
Afterward he was judge of the County Court, and a member of 
the Council of the State. His person was commanding, his address 
gentlemanly. Possessed of great fearlessness and energy, his name 
struck terror to the wood-robbers and tories, toward whom he 
exercised a vindictiveness. that only the severity of the times could 
justify. Wo to the guilty culprits who fell in his power ; without 
waiting for superfluous ceremony, the gallows was generally their 
fate. His complexion was dark and swarthy, and such was the 
terror he inspired among them, that he acquired the name of Black 
David, and sometimes Devil David, in contradistinction to David 
Forman the sheriff. Were it not for his exertions, the county 
would have suffered far more from its intestine enemies. He died 
about thirty years since. 

Near the battle-field of Monmouth stands the first Presbyterian 
church of Freehold, erected in 1752. It is of wood, shingled, and 
painted white. It stands partially enveloped in a grove of forest 
trees, is surrounded by an old graveyard, and has an ancient and 
venerable appearance. It is on the site of a former one, and public 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 347 

worship has been held on this venerated place for about two cen- 
turies. On this spot, within the walls of the church. Whitefield, 
David Brainard, and the two Tennents, have labored and prayed. 

At the time of the battle, a person, while sitting on a grave-stone 
in the yard, was mortally wounded by a cannor-ball. He was 
carried into the church, and there died. His blood stained the floor, 
and remains plainly visible to the present day, a melancholy 
memento, in this house of God, of those dark and troublesome times. 
Col. Monckton, of the British grenadiers, killed at Monmouth, lies 
buried within six feet of the west end of the church. He was a 
gallant officer, and of splendid personal appearance. No monu- 
ment is there, but his name, rudely cut on the building, marks the 
spot. 

The Rev. William Tennent, remarkable for his piety, and devo- 
tedness to the Christian cause, was, for a long period, the pastor of 
this church. He came from Ireland in 1718 with his father, the 
Rev. William Tennent. and was educated under his tuition, at the 
Log College on the banks of the Neshaminey. Being of a serious 
turn, he resolved to devote himself to the gospel ministry, and com- 
menced the study of divinity under the direction of his brother, the 
Rev. Gilbert Tennent, pastor of the church at New Brunswick. 
While there, he was thrown into a remarkable trance, and remained 
apparently dead for a number of days. The following account is 
from a Life of Mr. Tennent. ascribed to Elias Boudinot, LL.D., 
and first published in the Evangelical Intelligencer, a work printed 
in Philadelphia:* 

After a regular course of study in theology, Mr. Tennent was preparing for his exami- 
nation by the Presbytery as a candidate for the gospel ministry. His intense application 
affected his health, and brought on a pain in his breast and a slight hectic. He soon be- 
came emaciated, and at length was like a living skeleton. His life was now threatened. 
He was attended by a physician, a young man who was attached to him by the strictest 
and warmest friendship. He grew worse and worse, till little hope of his life was left. 
In this situation his spirits failed him, and he began to entertain doubts of his final hap- 
piness. He was conversing one morning with his brother, in Latin, on the state of his 
soul, when he fainted and died away. After the usual time, he was laid out on a board, 
according to the common practice of the country, and the neighborhood were invited to 
attend his funeral on the next day. In the evening, his physician and friend returned 
from a ride in the country, and was afflicted beyond measure at the news of his death. 
He could not be persuaded that it was certain ; and, on being told that one of the per- 
sons who had assisted in laying out the body thought he had observed a little tremor of 
the flesh under the arm. although the body was cold and stiff', he endeavored to ascertain 
the fact. He first put his own hand into warm water, to make it as sensible as possible, 
and then felt under the arm, and at the heart, and affirmed that he felt an unusual 
warmth, though no one else could. He had the body restored to a warm bed, and in- 
sisted that the people who had been invited to the funeral should be requested not to at- 
tend. To this the brother objected, as absurd. — the eyes bring sunk, the lips discolored, 
and the whole body cold and stiff. However, the doctor finally prevailed, and all proba- 
ble means were used to discover symptoms of returning life ; but the third day arrived, 
and no hopes were entertained of success but by the doctor, who never left him night nor 

* The evidence establishing the truth of this trance, is undoubted. Another letter 
was written by the Rev. Mr. Woodhull (the successor of the Rev. Wm. Tennent" 1 to Mr. 
Boudinot, in which he gives the account of the trance, as related to him by Mr. Tennent 
himself. This letter, which we have seen, is now in the possession of Professor Dod, of 
Princeton. — Compilers His. Coll. of X. J. 



348 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

day. The people were again invited, and assembled to attend the funeral. The doctor 
still objected, and at last confined his request for delay to one hour, then to half an hour, 
and finally to a quarter of an hour. He had discovered that the tongue was much swol- 
len, and threatened to crack : he was endeavoring to soften it by some emollient oint- 
ment put upon it with a feather, when the brother came in, about the expiration of the 
last period, and, mistaking what the doctor was doing for an attempt to feed him, mani- 
fested some resentment, and in a spirited tone said, " It is shameful to be feeding a life- 
less corpse," — and insisted, with earnestness, that the funeral should immediately pro- 
ceed. At this critical and important moment, the body, to the great alarm and astonish, 
ment of all present, opened its eyes, gave a dreadful groan, and sank again into apparent 
death. This put an end to all thoughts of burying him, and every effort was again em- 
ployed in hopes of bringing about a speedy resuscitation. In about an hour the eyes 
again opened, a heavy groan proceeded from the body, and again all appearance of ani- 
mation vanished. In another hour, life seemed to return with more power, and a com- 
plete revival took place, to the great joy of the family and friends, and to the no small 
astonishment and conviction of very many who had been ridiculing the idea of restoring 
to life a dead body. 

Mr. Tennent continued in so weak and low a state for six weeks, that great doubts 
were entertained of his final recovery. However, after that period lie recovered much 
faster ; but it was about 12 months before he was completely restored. After he was 
able to walk the room, and to take notice of what passed around him, on a Sunday af- 
ternoon, his sister, who had stayed from church to attend him, was reading in the Bible, 
when he took notice of it, and asked her what she had in her hand. She answered that 
she was reading the Bible. He replied, " What is the Bible ? I know not what you 
mean." This affected the sister so much, that she burst into tears, and informed him 
that he was once well acquainted with it. On her reporting this to the brother when he 
returned, Mr. Tennent was found, upon examination, to be totally ignorant of every 
transaction of his life previous to his sickness. He could not read a single word, neither 
did he seem to have an idea of what it meant. As soon as he became capable of atten- 
tion, he was taught to read and write, as children are usually taught, and afterward be- 
gan to learn the Latin language under the tuition of his brother. One day as he was re- 
citing a lesson iti Cornelius Nepos, he suddenly started, clapped his hand to his head, as 
if something had hurt him, and made a pause. His brother asking him what was the 
matter, he said that he felt a sudden shock in his head, and it now seemed to him as if 
he had read that book before. By degrees his recollection was restored, and he could 
speak the Latin as fluently as before his sickness. His memory so completely revived, 
that he gained a perfect knowledge of the past transactions of his life, as if no difficulty 
had previously occurred. This event, at the time, made a considerable noise, and af- 
forded not only matter of serious contemplation to the devout Christian, especially when 
connected with what follows in this narration, but furnished a subject of deep investiga- 
tion and learned inquiry to the real philosopher and curious anatomist. 

The writer of these memoirs was greatly interested by these uncommon events, and, 
on a favorable occasion, earnestly pressed Mr. Tennent for a minute account of what his 
views and apprehensions were while he lay in this extraordinary state of suspended ani- 
mation. He discovered great reluctance to enter into any explanation of his perceptions 
and feelings at this time ; but being importunately urged to do it, he at length consented, 
and proceeded with a solemnity not to be described : 

" While I was conversing with my brother," said he, " on the state of my soul, and the 
fears I had entertained for my future welfare, I found myself, in an instant, in another 
state of existence, under the direction of a superior Being, who ordered me to follow him. 
I was accordingly wafted along, I know not how, till I beheld at a distance an ineffable 
glory, the impression of which on my mind it is impossible to communicate to mortal man. 
I immediately reflected on my happy change, and thought — Well, blessed be God ! I am 
safe at last, notwithstanding all my fears. I saw an innumerable host of happy beings, 
surrounding the inexpressible glory, in acts of adoration and joyous worship ; but I did 
not see any bodily shape or representation in the glorious appearance. I heard things 
unutterable. I heard their songs and hallelujahs, of thanksgiving and praise, with un- 
speakable rapture. I felt joy unutterable and full of glory. I then applied to my con- 
ductor, and requested leave to join the happy throng, — on which he tapped me on the 
shoulder, and said, ' You must return to the earth.' This 6eemed like a sword through 
my heart. In an instant I recollect to have seen my brother standing before me dis- 
puting with the doctor. The 3 days during which I had appeared lifeless, seemed to me 
not more than 10 or 20 minutes. The idea of returning: to this world of sorrow and 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 349 

trouble gave me such a shock, that I fainted repeatedly." He added, " Such was the 
effect upon my mind of what I had seen and heard, that, if it be possible for a human 
being to live entirely above the world and the things of it, for some time afterward I was 
that person. The ravishing sounds of the songs and hallelujahs that I heard, and the 
very words that were uttered, were not out of my ears, when awake, for at least 3 years. 
All the kingdoms of the earth were in my sight as nothing and vanity ; and so great 
were my ideas of heavenly glory, that nothing which did not in some measure relate to 
it could command my serious attention." 

It is not surprising that, after so affecting an account, strong solicitude should have 
been felt for further information as to the words, or at least the subjects of praise and 
adoration, which Mr. Tennent had heard. But when he was requested to communicate 
these, he gave a decided negative, adding, " You will know them, with many other par- 
ticulars, hereafter; as you will find the whole among my papers," — (alluding to his in- 
tention of leaving the writer hereof his executor,) — which precluded any further solici- 
tation."* 

The writer of the Life of Mr. Tennent, having requested of the Rev. Dr. William M. 
Tennent a written account of an anecdote relative to his uncle which he had once heard 
him repeat verbally, received in reply the following letter : 

Abington, Jan. 11, 180G. 

Sir — The anecdote of my venerable relative, the Rev. Wm. Tennent, of Freehold, which 
you wished me to send you, is as follows : 

During the great revival of religion which took place under the ministry of Mr. White- 
field, and others distinguished for their piety and zeal at that period, Mr. Tennent was 
laboriously active, and much engaged to help forward the work, — in the performance of 
which he met with strong and powerful temptations. The following is related as re- 
ceived, in substance, from his own lips, and may be considered as extraordinary and sin- 
gularly striking : 

On the evening preceding public worship, which was to be attended the next day, he 
selected a subject for the discourse which was to be delivered, and made some progress 
in his preparations. In the morning he resumed the same subject, with an intention to 
extend his thoughts further on it, but was presently assaulted with a temptation that the 
Bible, which he then held in hand, was not of Divine authority, but the invention of man. 
He instantly endeavored to repel the temptation by prayer, but his endeavors proved un- 
availing. The temptation continued, and fastened upon him with greater strength, as 
the time advanced for public service. He lost all the thoughts which he had on his sub- 
ject the preceding evening. He tried other subjects, but could get nothing for the peo- 
ple. The whole book of God, under that distressing state of mind, was a sealed book to 
him ; and, to add to his affliction, he was, to use his own words, " shut up in prayer." 
A cloud, dark as that of Egypt, oppressed his mind. 

Thus agonized in spirit, he proceeded to the church, where he found a large congrega- 
tion assembled, and waiting to hear the word ; and then it was, he observed, that he was 
more deeply distressed than ever, and especially for the dishonor which he feared would 
fall upon religion, through him, that day. He resolved, however, to attempt the service. 
He introduced it by singing a psalm, during which time his agitations were increased in 
the highest degree. When the moment for prayer commenced, he arose, as one in the 
most perilous and painful situation, and, with arms extended to heaven, began with this 
outcry, " Lord, have mercy upon me !" Upon the utterance of this petition, he was 
heard : the thick cloud instantly broke away, and an unspeakably joyful light shone in 
upon his soul, so that his spirit seemed to be caught up to the heavens, and he felt as 
though he saw God, as Moses did on the Mount, face to face, and was carried forth to 
him, with an enlargement greater than he had ever before experienced, and on every page 
of the scriptures saw his divinity inscribed in brightest colors. The result was a deep 

* It was so ordered, in the course of divine Providence, that the writer was sorely dis- 
appointed in his expectation of obtaining the papers here alluded to. Such, however, 
was the will of Heaven ! Mr. Tcnnent's death happened during the revolutionary war, 
when the enemy separated the writer from him, so as to render it impracticable to attend 
him on a dying bed ; and before it was possible to get to his house, after his death, (the 
writer being with the American army at Valley Forge,) his son came from Charleston 
and took his mother, and his father's papers and property, and returned to Carolina. 
About 50 miles from Charleston, the son was suddenly taken sick, and died among en- 
tire strangers ; and never since, though the writer was left executor to the son, could 
any trace of the father's papers be discovered by him. 



350 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

solemnity on the face of the whole congregation ; and the house, at the end of the prayer, 
was a Bochim. He gave them the subject of his evening meditations, which was 
brought to his full remembrance, with an overflowing abundance of other weighty and 
solemn matter. The Lord blessed the discourse, so that it proved the happy means of 
the conversion of about 30 persons. This day he spoke of, ever afterward, as his har- 
vest-day. William M. Tennent. 

Mr. Tennent was buried under the centre aisle of the church 
represented in the engraving. On a tablet beside the pulpit is the 
following inscription to his memory : 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. William Tennent, pastor of the first Presbyterian 
church in Freehold, who departed this life the 8th of March, 1777, aged 71 years and 9 
months. He was pastor of said church 43 years and G months, faithful and beloved. 

Sacred to the memory of the Rev. John Woodhull, D. D., who died Nov. 22d, 1824, 
aged 80 years. An able, faithful, and beloved minister of Jesus Christ. He preached 
the gospel 56 years. He was settled first in Leacock in Pennsylvania, and in 1779 re- 
moved to this congregation, which he served as pastor, with great diligence and success, 
for 45 years. Eminent as an instructor of youth, zealous for the glory of God, fervent 
and active in the discharge of all public and private duties, the labors of a long life have 
ended in a large reward. 

Englishtown lies near the line of Middlesex co., 5 miles NE. of 
Freehold. It is a village of nearly the same size, containing about 
40 dwellings and a Methodist church. 



HOWELL. 

Howell was taken from Shrewsbury in 1801. It is about 14 
miles long, 1 1 wide, and is bounded N. by Shrewsbury, E. by the 
Atlantic Ocean, S. by Dover, and W. by Freehold. The western 
portion is fertile, the central partially covered with pines, and 
abounding in marl of an excellent quality : on the seashore are 
some fine farms. The surface is generally level, excepting in the 
N. part, where there is a range of highlands called the Hommony 
Hills. The township contains 16 stores, 10 grist-m., 8 saw-m., 4 
furnaces; cap. in manufac. $4,000; 15 schools, 475 scholars. 
Pop. 4,699. 

Blue Balls is a thickly settled neighborhood in the NW. part of 
the township, 3 miles S. of Freehold, where there are about 25 
dwellings, a Methodist and a Presbyterian church. Upper Squan- 
kum, near the Hommony Hills, contains a Methodist, church and 
about 15 dwellings. Lower Squankum in the S. part is a settle- 
ment about the same size as the above. Squan, a village on the 
seashore, contains 2 stores, a neat church, and about 30 dwellings. 
Several coasters sail from here with wood and charcoal. This 
vicinity is much visited in the summer months for sea-bathing, and 
there are several boarding-houses lor the accommodation of visitors. 
At the Howell Furnace, near the central part of the township, 
where iron has been extensively manufactured, there are about 50 
dwellings, principally occupied by the workmen, and an Episcopal 
church. Burrsville, on the S. boundary, has 20 or 30 dwellings. 
New Bargain is a small settlement near Lower Squankum. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 35 1 

The following account of an incursion of the British into this 
township in the American revolution, is contained in a published 
letter, dated Kildare, Monmouth co., April 9, 1778. 

" About 135 of the enemy landed on Sunday last about 10 o'clock on the south side 
of Squan inlet, burnt all the salt-works, broke the kettles, &c, stripped the beds, &c, of 
some people there, who I fear wished to serve them ; then crossed the river, and burnt 
all except Dirrick Longstreets : after this mischief they embarked. The next day they 
landed at Shark river, and set fire to two salt-works, when they observed fifteen horse- 
men heave in sight, which occasioned them to retreat with great precipitation : indeed, 
they jumped in their flat-bottomed boats with such precipitation they sunk two of them." 



THE PINE ROBBERS. 

Superadded to the other horrors of the revolutionary war in this 
region, the pines were infested with numerous robbers, who had 
caves burrowed in the sides of sand-hills, near the margin of 
swamps in the most secluded situations, which were covered with 
brush so as to be undiscernible. At dead of night these miscre- 
ants would sally forth from their dens to plunder, burn, and murder. 
The inhabitants, in constant terror, were obliged for safety to carry 
their muskets with them into the fields, and even to the house of 
worship. At length so numerous and audacious had they become, 
that the state government offered large rewards for their destruc- 
tion, and they were hunted and shot like wild beasts, until the close 
of the war, when they were almost entirely extirpated. 

Among the most notorious of these villains were Fenton, Fagan, 
Burke, alias Emmons, Williams, De Bow, and West. Fenton was 
originally a blacksmith, and learned his trade at Freehold. On 
one occasion he robbed a tailor's shop in that township. Word 
was sent him that if he did not restore the clothing within a 
week, he should be hunted and shot. Intimidated by the threat, he 
returned the property, accompanied by the following fiendish note — 

I have returned your d d rags. In a short time I am coming to burn your barns 

and houses, and roast you all like a pack of kittens. 

In August, 1779, this villain at the head of his gang attacked at 
midnight the dwelling of Mr. Thomas Farr, in the vicinity of Im- 
laystown. The family, consisting of Mr. Farr and wife, both aged 
persons, and their daughter, barricaded the door with logs of wood. 
The assailants first attempted to beat in the door with rails, but 
being unsuccessful, fired through a volley of balls, one of which 
broke the leg of Mr. Farr ; then forcing an entrance at the back 
door, they murdered his wife, and dispatched him as he lay helpless 
on the floor. His daughter though badly wounded escaped, and 
the gang, fearing she would alarm the neighborhood, precipitately 
fled without waiting to plunder. 

After perpetrating many enormities, Fenton was shot about two 
miles below the Blue Balls in this township, under the following 
circumstances. Fenton and Burke beat and robbed a young man 
named Van Mater of his meal as he was going to mill. He escaped, 
and conveyed the information to Lee's Legion, then at the court- 



352 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

house. A party started off in a wagon in pursuit, consisting of the 
sergeant, Van Mater, and two soldiers. The soldiers lay on the 
bottom of the wagon, concealed under the straw, while the sergeant, 
disguised as a countryman, sat with Van Mater on the seat. To 
increase the deception, two or three empty barrels were put in the 
wagon. On passing a low groggery in the pines, Fenton came 
out with pistol in hand, and commanded them to stop. Addressing 
Van Mater, he said : — 

" You d d rascal ! I gave you such a whipping I thought 

you would not dare show your head ;" then changing the subject, 
inquired, " Where are you going ?" 

" To the salt- works," was the reply. 

" Have you any brandy ?" rejoined the robber. 

" Yes ! will you have some ?" 

A bottle was given him ; he put his foot on the hub of the wagon, 
and was in the act of drinking, when the sergeant touched the foot 
of one of the soldiers, who arose and shot him through the head. 
His brains were scattered over the side of the wagon. Burke, 
then in the woods, hearing the report, and supposing it a signal 
from his companion, discharged his rifle in answer. The party 
went in pursuit, but he escaped. Carelessly throwing the body 
into the wagon, they drove back furiously to the courthouse, where, 
on their arrival, they jerked out the corpse by the heels as though 
it had been that of some wild animal, with the ferocious exclama- 
tion, " Here is a cordial for your tories and wood-robbers /" 

Jonathan West, another of this lawless crew, in an affray with 
some of the inhabitants, was wounded and taken prisoner to the 
courthouse. His arm being horribly mangled was amputated. He 
soon after escaped to the pines, and became more desperate than 
before. He used the stump of his arm to hold his gun. Some time 
later he was again pursued, and on refusing to surrender was shot. 

Fagan, also a monster in wickedness, was killed in Shrewsbury 
by a party of militia under Major Benjamin Dennis. The account 
here given of the circumstances leading to his death is from Mrs. 
Amelia Coryel, a daughter of Mr. Dennis, now living (January, 
1843) at Philadelphia, and who, as will be seen in the narration, 
narrowly escaped death from the ruffians. 

On one Monday in the autumn of 1778, Fagan, Burke, and Smith 
came to the dwelling of Major Dennis, on the south side of Manas- 
quan river, four miles below what is now the Howell Mills, to rob 
it of some plunder captured from a British vessel. Fagan had 
formerly been a near neighbor. Smith, an honest citizen, who had 
joined the other two, the most notorious robbers of their time, for 
the purpose of betraying them, prevailed upon them to remain in 
their lurking-place while he entered the house to ascertain if the 
way was clear. On entering he apprized Mrs. Dennis of her dan- 
ger. Her daughter Amelia, (now Mrs. Coryel,) a girl of fourteen, 
hid a pocket-book containing '$80 in a bedtick, and with her little 
brother hastily retreated to a swamp near. She had scarcely left, 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 353 

when they entered, searched the house and the bed, but without 
success. 

After threatening Mrs. Dennis, and ascertaining she was unwil- 
ling to give information where the treasure was concealed, one of 
them proposed murdering her. " No /" replied his comrade, " let 

the d d rebel b h live /" The counsel of the first prevailed. 

They took her to a young cedar-tree, and suspended her to it by 
the neck with a bedcord. In her struggles she got free and 
escaped.* Amelia, observing them from her hiding-place, just then 
descried John Holmes approaching in her father's wagon over a 
rise of ground two hundred yards distant, and ran toward him. 
The robbers fired at her ; the ball whistled over her head, and 
buried itself in an oak. Holmes abandoned the wagon and escaped 
to the woods. They then plundered the wagon and went off. 

The next day, Maj. Dennis removed his family to Shrewsbury, 
under the protection of the guard. Smith stole from his compan- 
ions, and informed Dennis they were coming the next evening to 
more thoroughly search his dwelling, and proposed that he and his 
comrades should be waylaid at a place agreed upon. On Wednes- 
day evening the major, with a party of militia, lay in ambush at 
the appointed spot. After a while, Smith drove by in a wagon in- 
tended for the plunder, and Fagan and Burke came behind on foot. 
At a given signal from Smith, which was something said to the 
horses, the militia fired and the robbers disappeared. On Saturday, 
some hunters, in a groggery, made a bet that Fagan was killed. 
Search was made, and his body found and buried. On Sunday, the 
event becoming known, the people assembled, disinterred the re- 
mains, and after heaping indignities upon it, enveloped it in a tarred 
cloth and suspended it in chains, with iron bands around it, from a 
large chestnut-tree about a mile from the courthouse, on the road 
to Colt's neck. There hung the corpse in mid-air, rocked to and 
fro by the winds, a horrible warning to his comrades, and a terror 
to travellers, until the birds of prey picked the flesh from its bones 
and the skeleton fell piecemeal to the ground. Tradition affirms 
that the skull was afterward placed against the tree, with a pipe in 
its mouth, in derision. 



MIDDLETOWN. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. Its greatest length is 
15 m., breadth 10 m. It is bounded N. by Raritan and Sandy Hook 
bays, E. by the Atlantic ocean and Shrewsbury, S. by Shrewsbury, 

* This lady on another occasion came near being killed by a party of Hessians, who 
entered her dwelling, and, after rudely accosting her, knocked her down with their mus- 
kets, and left her for dead. In the July succeeding the death of Fagan, her husband 
was shot by the robbers Fenton and Emmons, as he was travelling from Coryel's Ferry 
to Shrewsbury. After the murder of her husband she married John Lambert, acting 
governor of New Jersey in 1802. She died in 1835. 

45 



354 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



and W. by Freehold and South Amboy, Middlesex co. The soil is 
various, but in general fertile, and much improved by marl. Its 
surface is the most uneven of any in the county, and the highlands 
of Navisink are in the eastern part. There are in the township 33 
stores, 3 lumber-yards, 2 fulling-m., 3 tanneries, 11 grist-m., 6 saw- 
m. ; cap. in manufac. $65,250 ; 1 academy, 60 students ; 19 schools, 
1,239 scholars. Top. 6,063. 




View in Middletown. 

Richard Hartshorne, an English Friend or Quaker, emigrated to 
this county in May, 1666, and settled about that time on the Navi- 
sink river. This was among the first, if not the first permanent 
settlement made in Middletown. His place, called Portland Point, 
now remains in the possession of his descendants. " About this 
time, this part of the county was a great resort for industrious and 
reputable farmers. Many of the English inhabitants were from 
the west end of Long Island, and by degrees extended their settle- 
ments to Freehold and vicinity. Some Dutch and Scotch, also, 
early settled in the township. In 1682, Middletown was supposed 
to consist of 100 families ; several thousand acres were allotted for 
the town, and many thousands for the out-plantations. John Bowne, 
Richard Hartshorne, and Nicholas Davis, had each well-improved 
settlements here ; and a court was held twice or thrice a year for 
Middletown, Piscataway, and their jurisdictions." 

The village of Middletown is in a fertile country, near the heart 
of the township, 16 m. NE. of Freehold, and 45 m. from Trenton. 
The engraving is a representation of the village as it appears on 
entering it from the east. The first building on the right, with a 
spire, is the academy ; the second and third, the Baptist and Reform- 
ed Dutch churches ; the spire on the left is that of the Episcopal 
church. There are in the place 3 stores, several mechanic shops, 
and 25 buildings The Baptist church is worthy of note, from its 
having been the first of this denomination established in the state. 
The annexed sketch of its origin is from Benedicts Hist, of the 
Baptists. 

For the origin of this church, we must look back to the year 1667, for that was the 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 355 

year when Middletown was purchased from the Indians by 12 men and 24 associates. 

Their names are in the town book. Of them, the following were Baptists :— 
Richard Stout, John Wilson, William Layton, 

John Stout, Walter Hall, William Compton, 

James Grover, John Cox, James Ashton, 

Jonathan Bown, Jonathan Holmes, John Bown, 

Obadiah Holmes, George Mount, Thomas Whitlock, 

John Buckman, William Cheeseman, James Grover, junior. 

It is probable that some of the above had wives and children of their own way of 

thinking ; however, the forenamed 18 men appear to have been the constituents of the 

church of Middletown, and the winter of 16G8 the time. 






Mk 






K5P=- 




Central View in Middletown Point. 

Three churches have been built by this society. The present 
one was erected in 1832, and the one previous had stood from 90 
to 100 years. The Episcopal church has been organized more than 
a century. The Reformed Dutch church was erected in 1836. 
Jacob Beekman, John B. Crawford, and Alexander C. Millspaugh, 
are the names of the successive pastors. 

The village of Middletown Point, is upon a narrow point of land 
formed by two branches of the Matteawan creek, 3 m. from Rari- 
tan bay, and 12 from Freehold. It was early settled by Scotch, 
and called New Aberdeen. The view was taken in the principal 
street. The large building, with a tower, is the Presbyterian 
church, a neat edifice ; the smaller structure, on the extreme right, 
is the academy. The Methodists have a church, erected in 1836, 
distant about 200 yards from where the view was taken. This vil- 
lage is a thriving business-place ; a steamer plies between it and 
New York. It contains a bank, 1 1 stores, 25 mechanic shops, and 
about 70 dwellings, many of them large and commodious. 

Philip Freneau, the most distinguished poet of our revolutionary 
time, lived, in the latter part of his life, at Mount Pleasant, near 
this village. He was educated at Princeton. Freneau enjo}'ed the 
friendship of Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, and 
was in constant correspondence with the three last. " His patriotic 
songs and ballads, which are superior to any compositions of the 
kind then written in this country, were everywhere sung with en- 
thusiasm." He was a man of naturally fine feelings, but an infidel 



356 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

in sentiment ; and, late in life, of intemperate habits. He perished 
miserably, near Freehold, Dec. 18th, 1832, in the 80th year of his 
age. 







^*- — -* 




View of Keyport. 

Keyport is beautifully situated on Raritan bay, about 2 m. from 
Middletown Point, and 22 from New York. There is, from the 
village, a splendid view of the bay, Staten Island, the Narrows, 
Sandy Hook, and the ocean, exhibiting on a pleasant day, when 
the vast expanse of waters is dotted with sails, a scene of beauty. 
The village was laid out about the }ear 1830, by a company who 
sold building lots. Keyport, including Brown's Point, (a smaller 
and older settlement in its vicinity,) contains 4 stores, 2 lime-kilns, 
an extensive shipyard, several mechanic shops, and about 70 dwell- 
ings. There is a Baptist and a Methodist church, the former seen 
on the right, and the latter on the left of the engraving. This is a 
flourishing village, manifesting the usual enterprise of a young and 
growing place. The chief business is with New York. Several 
sloops and schooners are engaged in the carrying-trade, and a daily 
steamboat communication is had with that city. High Point Chapel, 
Riceville, Chanceville, and Baptist Town, are small villages in the 
township, at the first of which is a Methodist, and at the last a 
Baptist and a Reformed Dutch church. Harmony, l\ m. NW. of 
the village of Middletown, contains a Methodist church and a few 
dwellings. Mount Pleasant, near Middletown Point, is also a small 
collection of houses. 

The noted highlands of Navisink extend along Sandy Hook bay 
for nearly rive miles. The range is about 300 feet in height, and 
comes boldly down to near the water's edge. It is covered with 
a forest, in which deer and other game find a covert. The annexed 
engraving is a representation of the lighthouses on Beacon hill, 
near the southern termination of the highlands. They are called 
the Highland Lighthouses, in contradistinction to the one on Sandy 
Hook, five miles distant. They were erected in the administration 
of John Quincy Adams, and are the first beacons seen by European 
vessels entering the port of New York. Latterly they have been 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 357 

fitted up with new and improved lights, of French construction, 
which are seen by the mariner at a distance of 25 miles. About 
a mile north of Beacon hill is a locality known as Gravelly Point, 




View of the Lighthouses and Telegraph on Navisink Hills. 

where deep water is found near the shore. This is the spot where 
the British army embarked after the battle of Monmouth, and 
where the unfortunate Capt. Joshua Huddy was barbarously mur- 
dered by the enemy. 

In the spring of 1782 a slide of earth happened at Greenland 
bank, the highest point of the highlands, situated two miles north 
of Beacon hill. The noise was heard for a distance of several 
miles. The annexed account was published at the time : 

On the ridge of mountains, commonly called Navisink hills, in Monmouth co., 
East Jersey, a considerable quantity of land, some say 40 acres, gave way, in April 
last, and sunk directly down, a considerable depth ; forming a cavity equal in circum- 
ference, at bottom, to the void space above. The tops of the trees, that sunk with 
the soil, and which were mostly of considerable bulk, are now nearly level with the 
edges of the remaining ground. Round this again the earth opens, in one continuous fissure, 
a foot or more in breadth, for a considerable distance ; and, as is conjectured, from its 
present appearance, will shortly go down also — the foundation being perhaps but a loose 
quicksand. It is supposed, by the country people thereabouts, to have been occasioned 
by the washing and undermining of the sea, to which it was contiguous. 

The proximity of this part of the county to New York rendered 
it, in the war of the revolution, peculiarly liable to the incursions 
of British troops. Many of the inhabitants, although secretly fa- 
vorable to the American cause, were obliged to feign allegiance 
to the crown, or lose their property by marauding parties of refu- 
gees, from vessels generally lying off Sandy Hook. Among those 
of this description was Maj. Kearney, a resident near the present 
site of Keyport. On one occasion, a party of 30 or 40 refugees 
stopped at his dwelling, on their way to Middletown Point, where 
they intended to burn a dwelling and some mills. Kearney feigned 
gratification at their visit, and falsely informed them there were 
probably some rebel troops at the "Point," in which case it would 
be dangerous for them to march thither. He ordered his negro 
servant, Jube, thither, to make the inquiry; at the same time se- 
cretly giving him the cue how to act. In due length of time, Jube, 



358 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

who had gone but a short distance, returned ; and hastily entering 
the room where Kearney and the refugees were, exclaimed, in a 
short, broken manner, as though out of breath, " Oh, massa ! mas- 
sa ! the rebels are at the Point, thick as blackberries ! They have 
just come from the courthouse, and say they are going to march 
down here to-night." The ruse succeeded ; the refugees, alarmed, 
precipitately retreated to their boats, leaving the major to rejoice 
at the stratagem which had saved the property of his friends from 
destruction. 

A similar anecdote is related of William Parker, a member of 
the society of Friends. The late Gov. Howell, then a major in the 
American army, was on terms of intimacy and friendship with him ; 
and when in the neighborhood accepted the hospitalities of his 
house. One evening he abruptly entered the room where Parker 
and about a dozen refugees "were at supper. Parker, with presence 
of mind, prompt!}' exclaimed, " Good evening, Dick ! why so late ? 
I cannot attend to that business to-night — I am engaged with some 
friends. Call in the morning, and I will settle it." Howell took 
the hint, and sought a less dangerous shelter. 



SHREWSBURY. 

Shrewsbury is 14 miles long, N. and S., and 13 wide, E. and W. ; 
and is bounded N. by Middletown, E. by the Atlantic ocean, S. by 
Howell, and W. by Freehold. The surface is level ; the southern 
part sandy, and covered mostly with pines ; the northern fertile, 
and containing excellent farms. There are in the township 34 
stores, 1 furnace, 4 grist-m., 3 saw-m., cap. in manufac. $16,240; 
8 schools, 405 scholars. Pop. 5,917. 

Shrewsbury was first settled by emigrants from Connecticut, in 
1664. In 1682 several thousand acres were under cultivation, and 
the population was estimated at 400. " Lewis Morris, of Barba- 
does, brother of Richard Morris, the first settler at Morrisiana, 
New York, and uncle of Lewis Morris, subsequently governor of 
New Jersey, had iron-works and other considerable improvements 
here." The village of Shrewsbury is in the north part of the town- 
ship, 12 miles east of Freehold, and is situated in a thriving agri- 
cultural district. In the annexed engraving, the building on the 
right, partially hidden by locust-trees, is the Episcopal church. In 
the distance, on the right side of the street, is shown the Presbyte- 
rian church — a plain structure, without a spire ; and nearly opposite, 
on the left, the Friends meeting-house. There is another house of 
worship for Friends in the northern part of the village ; also an 
academy in the place, and about 30 dwellings. 

There is no authentic record of the Presbyterian church in Shrewsbury, until the year 
1735, when Rev. Samuel Blair preached here, in connection with Londonderry, Pa. In 
1749, through the influence of Gov. Belcher, a charter was obtained, in connection with 
Freehold and Allentown. From 1757 to 1765, it is believed that the Rev. Mr. M v ;Knight, 






MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



359 



for most of the time, officiated as pastor. From this period till the erection of their 
present building, in 1823, the society were only occasionally supplied with preaching. 
Rev. Nathaniel A. Pratt took charge of the congregation in 1823, and continued until 
1825. The next minister was the Rev. James M. Hunting, who, in 1830, was succeed. 
ed by Rev. James Woodward ; and he, in 1830, by Rev. Rums Taylor. 




Central View in Shrewsbury. 

Although the township was undoubtedly first settled by Presbyterians, or rather Con- 
gregationalists, from Connecticut, yet the society of Friends was first organized. From 
the best sources of information now to be obtained, it is evident the first members of the 
society, most if not all of them, must have been emigrants from England. The family 
of Hartshornes were already members of this meeting as early as 1672, only eight years 
after the first settlement of the town. And at this time there were organized a " month- 
ly and general meeting, and a place of meeting being built."* Tht society was also 
visited in the autumn of this year by George Fox, who is believed by some of the mem- 
bers of the society to have performed a miracle while on this visit, by setting a man's 
neck, which it was believed by the inhabitants was broken or dislocated by his being 
thrown from a horse. It is true the man revived while Fox was working his head, and 
was enabled to pursue his journey the following day. In the fall of 1702, the society 
appears to have been disturbed by a visit of the Rev. George Keith to this place, who 
had formerly been a minister in their society at Burlington, and had visited them when 
such, but was now a missionary from " the Society in England for the Propagation of 
the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and succeeded in drawing several families from them into 
the Church of England — among whom was the family of William Leeds, to whose lib- 
eral bequest the Episcopal church in this place is indebted for the large glebe, and the 
funds they now possess. The cause of disturbance and secession appears to have origi- 
nated in a difference of opinion in reference to the fundamental principles of the gospel. t 
From this time until 1827, the society appears to have been quiet and prosperous, be- 
coming one of the most numerous in the state. Here, however, as among the Friends 
throughout the Union, a division has taken place. In the fall of 1827, the two parties 
separated ; and from that to the present time two distinct meetings have been kept 
up — those termed by their opponents the Hicksites, occupying the original building, being 
the most numerous, and those called the Orthodox purchasing a building in which 
they held their meetings until the fall of 1842, when they erected a new building, in 
which they now assemble. By the decision of the Court of Chancery, confirmed by the 
Court of Errors in 1833, in the case of Stacy Decaw and Joseph flendrickson versus 
Thomas L. Shotwell, the Orthodox Friends are entitled to all the property originally be 
longing to the society in the state of New Jersey ; but in this place they have waived 



* Vide Fox's Journal. By general meeting is meant the " quarterly meeting." 
t Vide Keith's Journal ; also Leslie's Snake in the Grass ; also the writings of Friends 
generally. 



3G0 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

their legal right to the property, being content, as they say, in establishing in this trial 
what were the true, original, and present principles of Friends ; while the other party are 
equally confident that they are in principle and discipline the true successors and follow- 
ers of George Fox and his associates. 

The Episcopal church in this town, though not chartered until June 3d, 1738, was es- 
tablished, and enjoyed at least occasional services, as early as 1702. In the autumn of 
this year, the Episcopalians were visited by the Rev. George Keith, who had formerly 
been a minister in the society of Friends, and had visited them in that capacity in this 
place. He appears to have been a man of considerable notoriety, as he for some time 
rilled the office of surveyor-general of the province, and run what is now known in the 
public records of the state as "Keith's line," dividing East and West Jersey. 

After his leaving the Friends, Mr. Keith united himself to the Church of Eng- 
land, and returning to his native country, was ordained by the Bishop of London, and 
soon after sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, 
on a mission to this country. He was accompanied in this visit most of the time by 
the Rev. John Talbot, who afterward became the first rector of St. Mary's church, 
Burlington, in this state. His success in this place, as well as most others, in winning 
converts to the church, appears to have been considerable. Some of the principal fami- 
lies in the church were brought in through the instrumentality of his ministry. Among 
these was William Leeds, who was baptized by Rev. William Talbot. It was through 
the generous munificence of this individual that the church now possesses a glebe of 
nearly 600 acres of land, and also funds to considerable amount. The Rev. Mr. Inncs, 
who resided at Middletown at this time, performed occasional services in Shrewsbury as 
well as at the place of his residence.* The earliest records of this church commence 
with January, 1733, when the Rev. John Forbs, a man of an excellent spirit, a mission- 
ary from the society in England, officiated in this and the neighboring towns, particu- 
larly Freehold and Middletown. In 1738 he was succeeded by the Rev. John Miln. 
After whom, in 1740, the Rev. Thomas Thompson followed in the missionary labors of 
this county, travelling from GO to 70 miles, ministering the Word and Sacraments to the 
thinly scattered inhabitants. In this manner he labored until 1751, when his missionary 
spirit was directed to benighted Africa, where he went, under the direction of the so- 
ciety, as the first missionary from the American continent to the inhabitants of the coast 
of Guinea ; among whom he labored two years, when he was compelled by impaired health 
to return to England, his native country, where he soon died. He published a journal 
of his mission both in Shrewsbury and Africa — a work both rare and valuable. In this 
parish he was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Cook, in 1751, the last missionary from 
the society in England, who continued to labor here until the commencement of the 
revolutionary war, when, feeling it his duty to continue his allegiance to the British 
government, he retired to the province of New Brunswick, where, in a short time after, 
himself and son were drowned in attempting to cross the river St. Johns. From this 
time to 1788, the parish remained vacant, being occasionally visited by the clergy of 
other towns, and also enjoying occasional services from the lay readers. In 17b8 the 
Rev. Henry Waddell was formally inducted into the rectorship as the first rector of the 
parish, by the senior warden, there being no canonical provision for the institution of a 
minister in the diocese at this time. He was succeeded in 1799 by the Rev. Andrew 
Fawler, who continued in the rectorship of the parish until 1806. Mr. Fawler, in addi- 
tion to his ministerial labors, prepared and published a Practical Exposition of the Book 
of Common Prayer, as well as several smaller works, designed to advance the interests 
of the church. In 1809, the Rev. John Croes, jun., succeeded to the rectorship of this 
parish, in which he remained until 1824, when he was followed by the Rev. Eli Wheeler, 
who was succeeded in 1830 by the Rev. Harry Finch, the present incumbcnt.t 

The village of Red Bank is pleasantly situated on Navisink riv- 
er, 2 miles N. from Shrewsbury, 5 from the ocean, and 35 from 
New York. It is, with the exception of Keyport, in this county, 
the most rapidly increasing village in the state. In 1830 it con- 
tained but two houses, viz : the old tavern-house, on the river bank, 
and the small dwelling now owned by John Tilton, Esq., about 12 

* Vide Keith's Journal. 

t For the preceding ecclesiastical histories the compilers are indebted to a gentleman 
in Shrewsbury. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 361 

rods W. of the above. The principal source of its prosperity is the 
trade with New York. Thirteen sloops and schooners sail from 
here with vegetables, wood, and oysters, for that market ; and a 
steamboat plies between here and the city. Vessels, week after 
week, have taken oysters to New York, and returned with $600 or 
$700 for their cargoes. Red Bank contains 7 mercantile stores, 1 
hat manufactory, 2 wheelwrights, 2 lumber-yards, 2 blacksmiths, 2 
shoe stores, 2 ladies' fancy stores, 4 tailors, 1 bakery, 2 tinners, 1 
lime-kiln, 1 sash and blind factory, a Forum, for public meetings, 
an Episcopal chapel, and 60 dwellings. 

The southern cape of Raritan bay, known as Sandy Hook, be- 
longs to this township. It changed its character from a promonto- 
ry to an island in 1778, by an opening forced by the sea, termed 
the old Shrewsbury Inlet. In 1800 the inlet was closed, and the 
Hook again became a promontory until 1830, when it was re- 
opened, and is now an island. Vessels pass through the inlet. At 
certain stages of the tide, the waters rush through with a tremen- 
dous roar. The Hook is 4± miles in length, and varies in breadth 
from i to 1 mile in width. It is a low, sandy tract, a great part 
of it covered with low trees and shrubs, principally red cedar, 
interspersed with holly, wild cherry, &c. The accumulation of 
sand fast extends the cape, so that two lighthouses have become 
useless, being left too far inland. There are upon it two dwellings, 
and a lighthouse near its northern extremity. 

Sandy Hook was purchased by Richard Hartshorne, an early 
settler in Middletown. It remained in the possession of his de- 
scendants until 1816, when the United States, who had previously 
owned 125 acres, where the lighthouse is, purchased the remain- 
ing portion. The first lighthouse was erected about the year 1762, 
which, in the American revolution, was fortified by the British and 
refugees. An attack was made upon it by a party of Monmouth 
county militia, under Gen. David Forman, with two six-pounders ; 
but their artillery being too light, and a British armed vessel ap- 
proaching, they were obliged to retreat. 

The following, copied from a curious document, relates to an 
agreement between Richard Hartshorne and the Indians, in rela- 
tion to plumming and fishing on Sandy Hook. 

The 8th of August, 1678. Whereas the Indians pretend that formerly, when they 
sold all the land upon Sandy Hook, they did not sell, or did except, liberty to get plumbs,* 
or to say the Indians should have liberty to go on Sandy Hook to get plumbs when they 
please, and to hunt upon the land, and fish, and to take dry trees that suited them for 
cannows. Now know all men by these presents, that I, Richard Hartshorn, of Port- 
land, in the county of Monmouth, in East Jersey, for peace and quietness sake, and to 
the end there may be no cause of trouble with the Indians, and that I may not for the 
future have any trouble with them as formerly I had, in their doggs killing my sheep, 
and their hunting on my lands, and their fishing, I have agreed as followeth : 

These presents witnesseth, that I, Vowavapon, Hendricks, the Indians sonn, having 
all the liberty and privileges of pluming on Sandy Hook, hunting, fishing, fouling, get- 
ting cannows, &c, by these presents, give, grant, bargain, sell, unto Richard Hartshorn, 

* Great quantities of beach plums are gathered to the present day. 
46 



362 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

his heirs, and assigns forever, all the liberty and priviledge of pluming, fishing, fowling, 
hunting, and howsoever reserved and excepted by the Indians for him, the said Richard 
Hartshorn, his heirs and assigns, to have, hould, possess, and injoy forever, to say that 
no Indian, or Indians, shall or hath no pretense to lands or timber, liberty, privileges, 
on no pretense whatsoever on any part or parcell of land, belonging to the said Richard 
Hartshorn, to say, Sandy Hook or land adjoining to it, in consideration the said Harts- 
horn hath paid unto the said Vowavapon thirteen shillings money; and I, the said 
Vowavapon, do acknowledge to have received thirteen shillings by these presents. 
Witness my hand and seal. 

Signed, sealed, and delivered ) VOWAVAPON, X his mark, 

in presence of John Stout. $ TOCUS, X his mark. 

Many vessels, at various times, have been wrecked on Sandy 
Hook ; and money and other valuables found cast upon its shores. 
Tradition affirms that it was a favorite resort of the famous pirate, 
Capt. Kidd, to bury his ill-gotten treasures. 



The following inscriptions are from monuments in a small grave- 
yard, about forty rods northeast of the lighthouse : 

Here lieth the body of Thomas Kent, of Longport, Staffordshire, England, who de- 
parted this life suddenly, on the 2d of May, 1828, on board the ship New York, Capt. 
Bennett, near Sandy Hook ; in which vessel he had left the city of New York, with his 
wife and family, only the day before, to return to his native country. 



Capt. James Swain, of Cape May, aged 49 years, was wrecked and drowned, together 
with his sons, William and James, and three other men, at Sandy Hook, Jan. 23, A. D. 

1808. 



On the inner shore of the Hook, about a mile south of the light- 
house, once stood an elegant monument to the memory of a young 
British officer, and thirteen others, cast away in a snow-storm, in 
the war of the revolution. They were found frozen, and were buried 
in one common grave. The following was the inscription : 

Here lie the remains of the Honorable Hamilton Douglass Haliburton, son of Shoto 
Charles, Earl of Morton, and heir of the ancient family of Haliburton, of Pitcurr, in 
Scotland ; who perished on this coast, with twelve more young gentlemen, and one com- 
mon sailor, in the spirited discharge of duty, the 30th or 31st of December, 1783 — born 
October the 10th, 1763 : a youth who, in contempt of hardship and danger, though pos- 
sessed of an ample fortune, served seven years in the British navy, with a manly cour- 
age. He seemed to be deserving of a better fate. To his dear memory, and that of his 
unfortunate companions, this monumental stone is erected, by his unhappy mother, 
Katherine, Countess Dowager of Morton. 

James Champion, Lieutenant of Marines. 
Alexander Johnston, i 
George Paddy, > Midshipmen. 

Robert Heywood, ) 
Charles Gascoigne, ") a C William Tomlinso.n, 
Andrew Hamilton, l =o J John M'Chair, 
William Scott, | | § 1 William Spray, 

David Reddie, J § " I Robert Wood. 

George Towers, Sailor. 
Cast away, in pursuit of deserters ; all found dead, and buried in this grave. 
Of his Britannic majesty's ship Assistance : Mr. Haliburton, First Lieutenant. 

About the year 1808, some barbarians, from a French vessel-of- 
war, landed, and destroyed this beautiful monument of maternal 
affection. Some few traces of it still exist. 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 363 

The annexed is from a paper published at New York, during the 
late war with Great Britain, entitled " The War :" 

A Coup de Main. — On Sunday morning, July 4th, (1813,) the fishing-smack Yankee 
was borrowed by Com. Lewis, who has command of the flotilla stationed at the Hook, 
for the purpose of taking by stratagem the sloop Eagle, tender to the Poictiers 74, cruis- 
ing off and on Sandy Hook ; which succeeded to a charm. A calf, a sheep, and a. goose 
were purchased, and secured on deck. Thirty men, well armed, were secreted in the 
cabin and fore-peak. Thus prepared, the Yankee stood out of Musquito cove, as if go- 
ing on a fishing trip to the Banks ; three men only being on deck, dressed in fishermen's 
apparel, with buff caps on. The Eagle, on perceiving the smack, immediately gave 
chase ; and after coming up with her, and finding she had live stock on deck, ordered 
her to go down to the commodore, then five miles distant. The helmsman of the smack 
answered, "Ay, ay, sir!" and apparently put up the helm for that purpose, which 
brought him alongside the Eagle, not three yards distant. The watchword, Lawrence, 
was then given, when the armed men rushed on deck, from their hiding-places, and 
poured into her a volley of musketry, which struck her crew with dismay, and drove 
them down so precipitately into the hold of the vessel, that they had not time to strike 
their colors. Seeing the enemy's deck clear, Sailing-master Percival, who commanded 
the expedition, ordered his men to cease firing ; upon which one of the men came out 
of the enemy's hold, and struck the colors of the Eagle. She had on board a thirty-two- 
pound brass howitzer, loaded with canister-shot ; but, so sudden was the surprise, they 
had not time to discharge it. The crew of the Eagle consisted of H. Morris, master's 
mate of the Poictiers, W. Price, midshipman, and 11 seamen and marines. Mr. Mor- 
ris was killed ; Mr. Price mortally wounded ; and one marine killed, and one wounded. 
The Eagle, with the prisoners, arrived off the Battery, in the afternoon, and landed the 
prisoners at Whitehall, amid the shouts and plaudits of thousands of spectators, assem- 
bled on the Battery to celebrate the anniversary of our independence. Mr. Morris was 
buried at Sandy Hook, with military honors. Mr. Price was carried to New York, 
where, on Thursday, he died ; and was buried with military ceremonies, on Friday, in St. 
Paul's churchyard. 

Trap is a small village in the southern part of Shrewsbury. On 
the seashore is the popular watering-place known as Long Branch. 
The land adjacent to the ocean rises perpendicularly from the 
beach about twenty feet. The boarding-houses are a short distance 
back from the water, in front of which are pleasant lawns. In 
summer, a line of stages run between here and Philadelphia, and 
communication by steamboat is had with New York. Its inhabit- 
ants truly dwell at 

" the noise of the sounding surge ! when the dark rolling wave is near with its back of 
foam !" 

Eatontown is a mile and a quarter S. of Shrewsbury. It con- 
tains 4 stores, a grist-mill, an academy, and 35 dwellings. It 
derives its name from an Eaton family, who were among the early 
settlers of the township. 

The following is traditionary. About the year 1670 the Indians sold out this sec- 
tion of country to Lewis Morrrs for a barrel of cider, and emigrated to Crosswicks and 
Cranberry. One of them, called Indian Will, remained and dwelt in a wigwam between 
Tinton Falls and Swimming river. His tribe were in consequence exasperated, and at 
various times sent messengers to kill him in single combat ; but being a brave athletic 
man, he always came off conqueror. On a certain occasion, while partaking of a break- 
fast of suppawn and milk at Mr. Eaton's with a silver spoon, he casually remarked 
that he knew where there were plenty of such. They promised if he would bring them, 
they would give him a red coat and cocked hat. In a short time he was arrayed in 
that dress ; and it is said the Eatons suddenly became wealthy. About 80 years since, 
in pulling down an old mansion in Shrewsbury, in which a maiden member of this 
family in her lifetime had resided, a quantity of cob dollars, supposed by the superstitious 
to have been Kidd's money, were found concealed in the cellar wall. This coin was 



364 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



generally of a square or oblong shape, the corners of which wore out the pockets. Our 
informant, a respectable revolutionary pensioner, in his younger days made shoe-buckles 
from coin of this description. 

Tinton Falls, 2\ miles SW. of Shrewsbury, is on a branch of 
Navisink river, and contains about 25 dwellings, a furnace, a grist 
and saw mill, 2 stores. In its vicinity is a Methodist church. It 
is named from the cascade in the river, which here precipitates over 
a sand rock about 30 feet in height, filled with animal remains. 
Below, the stream winds for some distance through a romantic dell 
overhung by trees of variegated foliage. 

At the village is a chalybeate spring, once held in high repute by the Indians, who on 
selling out to the whites had reserved the spring and a small strip of surrounding land 
for public benefit. The water is composed of iron, copper, sulphur, &c. When taken 
from the spring it is clear, but on standing a few hours it assumes the color of cider, 
and discolors glasses in which it is placed. 

When this country was first settled, deer and wolves abounded. Among the deer 
hunters was one Webberly West, who died just previous to the war of the revolution. 
He is said in the course of his life to have killed many hundred. Wolves were caught 
in pits covered by brush, with meat on the top as a decoy. Snapping turtles were for- 
merly numerous in the creek, and proved destructive to ducks ; they would catch them 
with their claws, tear them in pieces, and devour them. Some of the turtles weighed 
20 or 30 pounds, and were much valued by the settlers as an article of food. They 
were so abundant that in two hours a person could catch a bushel-basket full. They 
laid their eggs in the sand, perhaps 30 or 40 in one spot ; which the foxes destroyed in 
great numbers. The Indians used to catch large quantities of clams on the seashore. 
Their method of cooking was to dig pits, heat them with wood, and then put in the 
clams and cover them with seaweed and brush to confine the heat. They were consid- 
ered a great luxury. 




View of the Capt. Huddy Mansion, Coifs Neck. 

Colt's Neck, originally called Call's Neck from a resident of that 
name, is 5 miles from Freehold, on a neck of land formed by two 
branches of Swimming river. It contains 3 stores, a church, and 
26 dwellings. On Widow Tillotson's land, about a mile N. from 
this place, in a clay bank beside a brook, is a cave formerly divided 
into several rooms. The mouth being now broken in, it is destroyed 
as an object of curiosity. It can only be entered when the stream 
is low. 

The above engraving represents the dwelling in which resided 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 365 

the brave Capt. Joshua Huddy, of revolutionary memory, now 
owned by Thomas G. Haight, Esq., and standing in the central part 
of Colt's Neck, a few rods back from the main road. Huddy dis- 
tinguished himself on various occasions in the war, and became an 
object of terror to the tories. In the summer of 1780, a party of 
about 60 refugees, commanded by Tye, a mulatto, one evening 
attacked this dwelling. Huddy, assisted only by a servant-girl,* 
aged about 20 years, defended it for some length of time. Several 
muskets were fortunately left in the house by the guard generally 
stationed there, but at this time absent. These she loaded, while 
Huddy, by appearing at different windows and discharging them, 
gave the impression that there were many defenders. He wounded 
several, and at last, while setting fire to the house, he shot their 
leader Tyef in the wrist. Huddy, finding the flames fast increas- 
ing, agreed to surrender, provided they would extinguish the fire. J 

It is said the enemy on entering were much exasperated at the 
feebleness of its defenders, and could with difficulty be restrained 
by their leader from butchering them on the spot. They were 
obliged to leave, as the militia soon collected, and killed six on their 
retreat. They carried off" with Huddy several cattle and sheep 
from the neighborhood, but lost them in fording the creeks. They 
embarked on board their boats near Black Point, between Shrews- 
bury and Navisink rivers. As the boats pushed from shore, Huddy 
jumped overboard, and was shot in the thigh as was supposed by 
the militia, then in close pursuit. He held up one of his hands 
toward them, exclaiming, " / am Huddy ! I am Huddy /" swam to 
the shore, and escaped. 

Two years after, March, 1782, Huddy commanded a blockhouse 
at Tom's River, which was attacked by a party of refugees from 
New York, and taken after a gallant resistance. (See p. 328 of 
this volume.) The prisoners were carried to New York ; from 
thence Huddy was conveyed to Sandy Hook, and placed heavily 
ironed on board a guard-ship. 

While confined he was told by one of the refugees that he was 
to be hanged, " for he had taken a certain Philip White, a refugee 
in Monmouth county, cut off both his arms, broke his legs, pulled 
out one of his eyes, damned him, and then bid him run." He an- 
swered, " It is impossible I could have taken Philip White, I being 
a prisoner in New York at the time, closely confined, and for many 
days before he was made prisoner." One or two of his comrades 

* The name of this heroine was Lucretia Emmons, afterward Mrs. Chambers. She 
died about 20 years since at Freehold. 

t Titus, or Col. Tye, as he was commonly called, usually commanded a mongrel 
crew of negroes and tories. He died of lockjaw occasioned by this wound. He was a 
slave of John Corlies, and was born and bred in the south part of this township. He 
was an honorable, brave, but headstrong man. Several acts of generosity are remem- 
bered of him, and he was justly more respected as an enemy than many of his brethren 
of a fairer complexion. 

X Marks of the fire are plainly discernible to the present day, (June, 1842 ;) and on 
the eastern end of the house are several bullet-holes. 



366 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

corroborated this statement. Four days after, (April 12th,) Huddy 
was taken by 16 refugees under Capt. Lippencot to Gravelly 
Point, on the seashore at the foot of Navisink hills, about a mile 
N. of the Highland lighthouses, where he was deliberately exe- 
cuted. He met his fate with an extraordinary degree of firmness 
and serenity. It is said he even executed his will under the gal- 
lows, upon the head of that barrel from which he was to make his 
exit, and in a handwriting fairer than usual. The following label 
was attached to his breast. 

We the refugees having long with grief beheld the cruel murders of our brethren, 
and finding nothing but such measures daily carrying into execution ; — we therefore 
determine not to suffer without taking vengeance for the numerous cruelties ; and thus 
begin, having made use of Capt. Huddy as the first object to present to your view ; and 
further determine to hang man for man, while there is a refugee existing. 

UP GOES HUDDY FOR PHILIP WHITE ! 

The gallows, formed of three rails, stood on the beach, close to 
the sea. Tradition states that Capt. Lippencot, observing reluc- 
tance in some of his men to take hold of the rope, drew his 
sword, and swore he would run the first through who disobeyed 
orders. Three of the party, bringing their bayonets to the charge, 
declared their determination to defend themselves — that Huddy was 
innocent of the death of White, and they would not be concerned 
in the murder of an innocent man. 

The following circumstances, relating to the death of White, 
were obtained principally by conversation with a highly respecta- 
ble gentleman, a soldier of the revolution, now (June, 1842) a resi- 
dent of this township. White, the refugee, was a carpenter, and 
served his time in Shrewsbury. Six days after Huddy was taken, 
he was surprised by a party of militia lighthorse, near Snag swamp, 
in the eastern part of the township. After laying down his arms 
in token of surrender, he took up his musket and killed a Mr. Hen- 
drickson. He was, however, secured, and while being taken to 
Freehold was killed at Pyle's Corner, 3 miles from there. He was 
under the guard of 3 men, the father of one of whom was mur- 
dered at Shrewsbury, the year previous, by a band of refugees, 
among whom was White, and he was therefore highly exasperated 
against the prisoner. Some accounts state, that he was killed 
while attempting to escape ; others, with more probability, that 
they pricked him with their swords, and thus forcing him to run, 
cruelly murdered him. 

The corpse of Huddy was carried to Freehold, and buried with 
the honors of war. A funeral sermon was preached on the occa- 
sion by the Rev. Mr. Wood hull,* who afterward suggested to Gen. 
David Forman the propriety of retaliation. Forman wrote to 
this effect to Washington. The subsequent history of this affair 
is thus given in Ramsay's History of the Revolution. 

* This clergyman was originally settled over a congregation in Pennsylvania. He 
was a strenuous whig, and while there, advocated the cause so eloquently from the pul- 
pit, that he succeeded in enlisting as soldiers every male member of his congregation 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 367 

Gen. "Washington resolved on retaliation for this deliberate mur- 
der ; but instead of immediately executing a British officer, he 
wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, that unless the murderers of Huddy 
were given up, he should be under the necessity of retaliating. 
The former being refused, Capt. Asgill was designated by lot for 
that purpose. In the mean time, the British instituted a court- 
martial for the trial of Capt. Lippencot, who was supposed to be 
the principal agent in executing Huddy. It appeared in the course 
of this trial, that Gov. Franklin, the president of the board of as- 
sociated loyalists, gave Lippencot verbal orders for what he did; 
and that he had been designated as a proper subject for retaliation, 
having been, as the refugees stated, a persecutor of the loyalists, 
and particularly as having been instrumental in hanging Stephen 
Edwards,* who had been one of that description. The court, hav- 
ing considered the whole matter, gave their opinion — " That, as 
what Lippencot did was not the effect of malice or ill-will, but 
proceeded from a conviction that it was his duty to obey the orders 
of the board of directors of associated loyalists, and as he did not 
doubt their having full authority to give such orders, he was not 
guilty of the murder laid to his charge, and therefore they acquit- 
ted him." Sir Guy Carleton, who, a little before this time, had been 
appointed commander-in-chief of the British army, in a letter to 
Gen. Washington, accompanying the trial of Lippencot, declared 
" that, notwithstanding the acquittal of Lippencot, he reprobated 
the measure, and gave assurances of prosecuting a further inquiry." 
Sir Guy Carleton, about the same time, broke up the board of as- 
sociated loyalists, which prevented a repetition of similar excesses. 

capable of bearing arms, he going with tbem as chaplain. In the spring of 1779, he 
was settled over the 1st Presbyterian church of Freehold, where he continued until his 
death, in Nov., 1824. 

* Stephen Edwards, a young man, in the latter part of the war left his home at 
Shrewsbury, and joined the loyalists at New York. From thence he was sent, by Col. 
Taylor of the refugees, a former resident of Middletown, back to Monmouth co. with 
written instructions to ascertain the force of the Americans there. Information having 
been conveyed to the latter, Jonathan Forman, a captain of cavalry, was ordered to 
search for him. Suspecting he might be at his father's residence, half a mile below Ea- 
tontown, he entered it at midnight with a party of men, and found him in bed with his 
wife, disguised in the nightcap of a female. 

" Who have you here ?" says Forman. 

" A laboring woman," replied Mrs. Edwards. The captain detected the disguise, and, 
on looking under the bed, saw Edwards' clothing, which he examined, and found the pa- 
pers given him by Col. Taylor. He then says, " Edwards, I am sorry to find you ! — You 
see these papers — you have brought yourself into a disagreeable situation, — you know 
the fate of spies!" 

Edwards denied the allegation, remarking, " he was not such, and could not be so 
considered." 

This occurred on Saturday night. The prisoner was taken to the courthouse, tried by 
a court-martial next day, and executed at 10 o'clock on the Monday following. Ed- 
wards' father and mother had come up that morning to ascertain the fate of their son, 
and returned home with his corpse. Edwards was an amiable young man. The For- 
man and Edwards families had been on terms of intimate friendship ; and the agency 
of one of the members of the former in the transaction, excited their deepest sympathies 
for the unfortunate fate of the prisoner. This occurred at the period of the greatest trou- 
bles in the county. — Compilers of the Hist. Coll. of New Jersey. 



368 MONMOUTH COUNTY. 

The war, also, drawing near a close, the motives for retaliation, as 
tending to prevent other murders, in a great measure ceased. In 
the mean time, Gen. Washington received a letter from the Count 
de Vergennes, interceding for Capt. Asgill, which was also accom- 
panied with a very pathetic one from his mother, Mrs. Asgill, to the 
count. Copies of these several letters were forwarded to congress, 
and soon after they resolved, "that the commander-in-chief be di- 
rected to set Capt. Asgill at liberty." The lovers of humanity re- 
joiced that the necessity for retaliation was superseded, by the 
known humanity of the new British commander-in-chief, and still 
more by the well-founded prospect of a speedy peace. Asgill, who 
had received every indulgence, and who had been treated with all 
possible politeness, was released, and permitted to go into New York. 



The following is from an ancient newspaper : 

On the 30th ult., (April, 1780,) a party of negroes and refugees from the Hook, landed 
at Shrewsbury in order to plunder. During their excursion a Mr. Russel, who attempted 
some resistance to their depredations, was killed, and his grandchild had five balls shot 
through him, but is yet living. Capt. Warner, of the privateer brig Elizabeth, was made 
prisoner by these ruffians, but was released by giving them two half joes. This banditti 
also took off several persons, among whom were Capt. James Green, and Ensign John 
Morris, of the militia. 

The annexed additional particulars were obtained by conversa- 
tion with a resident at the time. Mr. Russel was an elderly man, 
aged about 60 years ; as the party entered his dwelling, which 
was in the night, he fired and missed. They returned it, and young 
Russel fell. Wm. Gilian, a native of Shrewsbury, their leader, 
seized the old gentleman by the collar, and was in the act of stab- 
bing him in the face and eyes with his bayonet, when the fire 
blazed up, and shedding a momentary light upon the scene, enabled 
the younger Russel, as he lay wounded on the floor, to shoot Gilian. 
John Farnham, a native of Middletown, thereupon aimed his mus- 
ket at the young man ; but it was knocked up by Lippencot, who 
had married into the family. The party then went off. The 
child was accidentally wounded in the affray. 



STAFFORD. 

This township was incorporated in 1798. Its greatest length is 
19 miles, breadth 12 miles. It is bounded N. by Dover, E. and 
SE. by bays of the Atlantic, and SW. by Little Egg Harbor town- 
ship, Burlington co. ; Little Egg Harbor and Barnegat bays stretch 
along in front of the township, to the east of which is an unbroken 
beach, excepting at the Barnegat inlet, through which vessels 
enter. On the main land, next to the water, is a strip of salt 
marsh, varying from one quarter to three miles in width ; along 
on the shore, below the main post-road, the soil is fertile and there 
are some excellent farms. Inland, the surface is level, the soil 
mostly gravel and sand, and covered with pine and oak. There 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 359 

are in the township 9 stores, 1 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; 7 schools, 215 
scholars. Pop. 2,149. 

Manahocking, a nourishing village 45 miles from Freehold, con- 
tains a Baptist and a Methodist church, saw, grist, turning, and 
carding mills, 2 taverns, 3 stores, and about 40 dwellings. Wood, 
lumber, and cedar rails are exported in considerable quantities from 
this village. About 15 or 20 coasting vessels sail from this and 
the other places in the township, which carry off, with the other 
products of this timber country, large quantities of charcoal, here 
an article of increasing production. Barnegat, 4} miles N. of Mana- 
hocking, has 3 taverns, 3 stores, and about 30 dwellings. Waer- 
town, <;| miles from Manahocking, has a tavern, store, and a few 
dwellings. Westecunk, 5 miles below Manahocking, contains 2 
stores, a tavern, saw-mill, and about 30 dwellings. 

The following facts here given, relating to the catching of whales 
on this coast, at this late era, may be unknown to many of oar 
readers. They are extracted from J. F. Watson's (MS.) trip to 
Manahocking, made in July, 1833. He says : 

I was surprised to learn from old Stephen Inman, one of the 12 islanders of Long 
Beach, himself aged 75 years, that he and his family have never ceased to be whale 
catchers along this coast. They devote themselves to it in February and March. 
Generally catch two or three of a season, so as to average 40 or 50 barrels of oil apiece. 
Sometimes whales are taken making 90 barrels of oil. Whalebones of a large size are 
seen bleaching about the sand. 

The following relating to the infamous John Bacon, one of the 
refugees who had murdered several citizens and plundered many 
defenceless families, is from the Jersey Gazette of January 8th, 
1783: 

On Friday, the 27th ult., Capt. Richard Shreve, of the Burlington county lighthorsc, 
and Capt. Edward Thomas, of the Mansfield militia, having received information that 
John Bacon with his banditti of robbers was in the neighborhood of Cedar creek, col- 
lected a party of men and went immediately in pursuit of them. They met them at the 
Cedar creek bridge. The refugees, being on the south side, had greatly the advantage 
of Capts. Shreve and Thomas' party in point of situation. It was, nevertheless, deter- 
mined to charge them. The onset, on the part of the militia, was furious, and opposed 
by the refugees with great firmness for a considerable time ; several of them having 
teen guilty of such enormous crimes as to have no expectation of mercy should they sur- 
render. They were, nevertheless, on the point of giving way, when the militia were 
unexpectedly fired upon from a party of the inhabitants near that place, who had suddenly 
come to Bacon's assistance. 

This put the militia in some confusion, and gave the refugees time to get off. Mr. 
William Cooke, jr., son of William Cooke, Esq., was unfortunately killed in the attack, 
and Robert Reckless wounded; but is likely to recover. On the part of the refugees, 
Ichabod Johnson (for whom government has offered a reward of 25/.) was killed on the 
spot ; Bacon and three more of the party are wounded. The militia are still in pursuit 
of the refugees, and have taken seven of the inhabitants prisoners, who were with Bacon 
in the action at the bridge, and are now in the Burlington jail, some of whom have 
confessed the fact. They have also taken a considerable quantity of contraband and 
stolen goods in searching some suspected houses and cabins on the shore. 

In the spring ensuing, Bacon was surprised and killed at Egg 
Harbor by a detachment of Shreve's lighthorse, commanded by 
Cornet Cook. 

47 



370 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



UPPER FREEHOLD. 

This township is about 15 miles long, 10 wide, and is bounded 
N. by E. Windsor, Mercer co., E. by Freehold, S. by Dover, and 
W. by Hanover, Burlington co. The surface is level, the south- 
eastern part covered with pines. There are some excellent farms 
in the township, particularly on a strip of land called Cream ridge, 
running centrally across it. There are in the township 23 stores, 7 
tanneries, 2 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; 18 schools, 1,200 scholars. Pop. 
5,026. 

Allentown was probably first settled about the year 1700. It is 
on the road from Bordentown to Freehold, 8 miles from the former, 
18 from the latter, and 11 from Trenton. It is a village of con- 
siderable business, and contains an academy, a grist and two saw 
mills, 6 mercantile stores, 1 Methodist church, 1 do. for colored 
persons, a Presbyterian church, about 100 dwellings, and 5 or GOO 
inhabitants. A little west of the village, on the road to Trenton, is 




View of the Presbyterian Church, Allentown. 

a woollen factory and several dwellings. The principal part of the 
village is on the E. side of Doctors creek. On the western bank 
of this stream, on a gentle elevation, stands the Presbyterian church, 
a substantial brick structure erected in 1837 ; this society was 
founded in 1750, and the Methodist about the year 1810. Just 
previous to the battle of Monmouth the British marched through 
the village and encamped on Montgomery hill. 

New Egypt, a flourishing village near the western line of the 
county, contains 2 stores, and about 500 inhabitants. The soil is 
light, but made fertile by marl and lime. Imlaystown, Horners- 
town, Prospertown, Goshen, Varmintown, Cat-tail, and Cabbage- 
town, are small villages or neighborhoods in the township ; the 
first of which is a post- village, containing a store, tannery, a grist 
and a saw mill, 1 wheelwright, 1 cabinet-maker, 1 saddler, 1 black- 
smith-shop, and about 17 dwellings. 

As previously mentioned, Monmouth co., in the American revo- 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 371 

lution, suffered severely from its intestine enemies, particularly the 
refugees, who took up arms against their former neighbors and 
friends. Whole families were divided, fathers and brothers taking 
different sides, and mingling in savage conflict in murderous oppo- 
sition to each other. Between them occurred scenes of ferocity, 
and incidents of individual daring, sufficient to fill a volume of hor- 
ror. At one time the refugees gained the ascendency, and had pos- 
session of Freehold village for a week or ten days, but at last were 
driven out by the whigs. Some of them took to the swamps and 
woods, and, like the pine robbers, secreted themselves in caves bur- 
rowed in sand, where their friends covertly supplied them with food. 
The most ferocious of them were hung.* Those more mild, or 
merely suspected, were put on their parole of honor or sent prison- 
ers to Hagerstown, to prevent their communicating with the ene- 
my, and at the close of the war had their property restored. Many 
of the refugees fled from this state to New York, and were formed 
into a military corps under the name of " The Associated Loyalists" 
of which Wm. Franklin, the last royal governor of New Jersey, 
was president. 

This county was more afflicted by their marauding parties, than 
all the rest of the state combined ; and the inhabitants, favorable 
to the popular cause, were compelled to draw up articles of agree- 
ment for the purposes of retaliation. Annexed is a copy of this 
paper, with the names of the associators. It comprises the names 
of prominent families in this county at the present day. The origi- 
nal is in the secretary of state's office, Trenton. 

Whereas from the frequent incursions and depredations of the enemy 
(and more particularly of the refugees) in this county, whereby not only 
the lives but the liberty and property of every determined whig are endan- 
gered, they, upon every such incursion, either burning or destroying houses, 
making prisoners of, and most inhumanly treating aged and peaceable in- 
habitants, and plundering them of all portable property, it has become es- 
sentially necessary to take some different and more effectual measures to 
check said practices, than have ever yet been taken ; and as it is a fact, no- 
torious to every one, that these depredations have always been committed 
by the refugees (either black or white) that have left this country, or by 
their influence or procurement, many of whom have near relations and 
friends, that in general have been suffered to reside unmolested among us, 
numbers of which, we have full reason to believe, are aiding and accessary 
to those detestable practices. We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the county 
of Monmouth, actuated solely by the principles of self-preservation, being 
of opinion that the measure will be strictly justifiable on the common prin- 
ciples of war, and being encouraged thereto by an unanimous resolve of the 
honorable the congress, passed the 30th of Oct., 1778, wherein they in the 
most solemn manner declare that through every possible change of fortune 
they will retaliate, do hereby solemnly associate for the purpose of retaliation, 

* No less than 13 pine robbers, refugees, and murderers, were executed at different 
times on one gallows, which stood near where Fagan was hung, in the vicinity of the 
courthouse. Dr. Samuel Forman, of Freehold, from whom the above fact was obtained, 
assisted in the erection of this gallows. 



372 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



and do obligate ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, and every 
of them jointly and severally, to all and every of the subscribers and their 
heirs, &c, to warrant and defend such persons as may be appointed to as- 
sist this association in the execution thereof; and that we will abide by and 
adhere to such rules and regulations for the purpose of making restitution 
to such friends to their country as may hereafter have their houses burned 
or broke to pieces, their property wantonly destroyed or plundered, their 
persons made prisoners of whilst peaceably at their own habitations about 
their lawful business not under arms, as shall hereafter be determined on by 
a committee of nine men duly elected by the associates at large out of their 
number ; which rules and regulations shall be founded on the following 
principles, viz : — 

First. — For every good subject of this state residing within the county, 
that shall become an associator, and shall be taken or admitted to parole by 
any party or parties of refugees as aforesaid, that shall come on the errand 
of plundering and man-stealing, the good subject not actually under or 
taken in arms, there shall be taken an equal number of the most disaffected 
and influential residing and having property within the county, and them 
confine within Provost jail and treat them with British rigor, until the good 
subjects of this state taken as aforesaid shall be fully liberated. 

Second. — For every house that shall be burned or destroyed, the property 
of a good subject that enters with this association, there shall be made full 
retaliation upon or out of the property of the disaffected as aforesaid. 

Third. — That for every article of property taken as aforesaid from any 
of the associators, being good subjects, the value thereof shall be re- 
placed out of the property of the disaffected as aforesaid. We do also fur- 
ther associate for the purpose of defending the frontiers of this county, and 
engage each man for himself that is a subject of the militia that we will 
turn out at all times when the county is invaded, and at other times do our 
proportionate part towards the defence thereof. We the associators do here- 
by direct that a copy of this association be, as soon as the signing is com- 
pleted, transmitted to the printer of the New Jersey Gazette, for publication, 
and that the original be lodged in the clerk's office. Also we do request, that 
the associators will meet at the courthouse on Saturday, the 1st of July, at 1 
o'clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of electing a committee of nine 
men, as before-mentioned, to carry the said association into effect. 



Asher Holmes, 
John Smock, 
Elisha Walton, 
Thomas Thorn, 
John Schenck, (capt.) 
John Schenck, (lieut.) 
Win. Schenck, (lieut.) 
Barnes Smock, (do.) 
Jarrit Stilwell, 
Samuel Pearse, 
Henry Strieker, • 
William Schenck, 
William Covenhoven, 
Jonathan Forinan, 
David Forman, 
Samuel Clayton, 
Isaac Staales, 
Benjamin Van Mater, 
Lambert Johnston, 



Joseph Johnston, 
Joseph Holmes, 
Daniel Denise, 
Samuel Elliot, 
John Covenhoven, 
Joseph Willet, 
John Willet, 
Peter Johnston, 
George Hymes, 
Joseph Van Cleave, 
Solomon Combs, 
Samuel Dorsett, 
Godfrey Warner, 
Peter Longstreet, 
Joseph Wooley, 
John Sutphin, 
Abra'm Hendrickson, 
Hendrick Williamson, 
Kulif Covenhoven, 



John Van Schoick, 
John Nivison, 
John E. Leconte, 
Matthias Van Deripe 
Moses Sheppard, 
Benj*n Covenhoven, 
Alex. Van Tenycke, 
James Hampton, 
John Alwood, 
Elias Conover, 
Robert Laird, 
Berryan Covert, 
Samuel Carhart, 
Peter Van Derhoof, 
Jacob Allen, 
John Van Brocle, 
Hendrick Hyer, 
Corn. Covenhoven, 
Stout Holmes, 



William Nivison, 
John Brown, 
Garrit Covenhoven, 
James Holmes, 
William Hulsart, 
Jacob Van Pelt, 
Benj. Van Cleave, 
Harmon Sneider, 
Hendrick Sneider, 
William Sneider, 
David Rhea, jr., (adjt.) 
William Anderson, 
Daniel Hill, 
Patrick Bailey, 
Tunis Vanpelt, 
James Mash, 
Matthias Roberts 
Walter Vanpelt, 
Hendrick Vanpelt, 



MONMOUTH COUNTY. 



373 



Burrowes Norris, 
Joseph Broom, 
Thomas Stilwell, 
Corn. T. Vanderhoof, 
John Boman, 
Manasseh Dunham, 
Josiah West, 
Matthias Tice, 
William Rowler, 
Richard Laird, 
James Smalley, 
Henry Rue, 
William Lewis, 
David Craig, 
John Aumack, 
Samuel Craig, 
James Herbert, 
Garrit Voorhees, 
W. Laird, 
John Davison, 
John Parent, 
Joseph Covenhoven, 
Daniel Ketcham, 
Robert Francis, 
Robert Sharp, 
Oukey Leffertson, 
John Truax, 
John Hulsart, 
Samuel Hayes, 
Richard Postens, 
John Morford, 
David Hance, 
Andrew Clark, 
Peter Emmans, 
Rutliffe Schenck, 
Tunis Van Derveer, 
Peter Van Dorn, 
Adam Strieker, 
Matthias Conover, 
John Chasey, 
James Dorsett, 
Cornelius Hance, 
Koert Schenck, jr., 
John Morlat, 
James Willson, 
John Willson, 
Jacob Quackenbush, 
John Emmans, 
Peter Quackenbush, 
Abraham Emmans, 
John M'Mullin, 
John Wilkinson, 
John Johnston, 
Jacob Degroof, 
Cornelius Schenck, 
Alexander Clark, 
Samuel Rogers, 
Stephen Barkalow, 
William Currin, 
Peter Vounk, 
Cornelius M'Mullin, 
Richard Poling, 
Barzilla Baird, 



John Moore, 
John Smith Hunn, 
Ezekiel Lewis, 
Nathan Nivison, 
Peter Tanner, 
William Aumack, 
Thomas Morris, 
William Bowne, 
Thomas Barber, 
Samuel Bray, 
William Willcocks, 
James Kinsley, 
Jacob Pippenger, 
John Rouse, 
Benjamin Sutphin, 
Alexander M'Donald, 
John Perine, 
Aaron Davis, 
Thomas West, 
James M'Duffee, 
David Gordon, (capt.) 
David Brooks, 
Lewis M'Knight, 
Tunis Van Derveer, 
James English, 
John Freeman, 
William Craig, 
Jonathan Forman, 
John Ludlow, 
Aaron F. Welsh, 
John Rue, 
Lewis Carlton, 
Cornelius Barkalow, 
Henry Drake, 
Joseph Clayton, 
Daniel Lane, 
Jacob Smith, 
John Tilton, 
Elias Longstreet, 
Joseph Bowne, 
John Stilwell, 
Timothy Hughes, 
Ken'th Anderson, sen 
Richard Jeftery, 
William Morrison, 
Jacob Woolcot, 
James Green, (capt.) 
Joseph Vannoort, 
Joseph Johnston, 
John Lake, -n, 

Francis Herbert, 
William Hendrickson 
Thomas Smith, 
Samuel Forman, 
James Craig, 
John Craig, 
Thomas Seabrook, 
Peter Forman, 
Nathaniel Scudder, . 
William Craig, 
Thomas Edwards, 
Zebulon Baird, 
George Casler, 



David Forman, 
Kenneth Hankinson, 
John Walton, 
David Baird, 
Nicholas Van Brunt, 
Jacob Covenhoven, 
Thomas Henderson, 
Benj. Covenhoven, 
William Johnston, 
David Covenhoven, 
John Freeman, 
Derrick Sutphin, 
Moses Laird, 
John Jewell, 
Michael Johnston, 
Robert Van Schoick, 
Peter Smith, 
Alexander Low, 
John Jamison, 
Henry Perine, 
John Anderson, 
James English, 
James Reid, 
Joseph Sutphin, 
James Tapscott, 
Jacob Wickoff, 
David Craig, 
John Sutphin, 
Lewis Perine, 
John Baird, 
William Dewinney, 
Matthias Mount, 
William Rue, 
David Sutphin, 
Tunis Van Derveer, 
Stephen Seabrook, 
Jacob Bennit, 
William Sanford, 
Stephen Fleming, 
Joseph Fleming, 
James Willson, 
Michael Sweetman, 
• Jaques Denise, 
Ephraim Buck, 
Hend'k Van Derveer, 
William Hilsey, 
Joshua Huddy, 
Hendrick Voorhees, 
Samuel Dennis, 
Daniel Hendrickson, 
Barnabas Bennet, 
, Benjamin Van Cleave, 
Daniel Hampton, 
John Covenhoven, 
Dollance Hagerman, 
Thomas Chadwick, 
Hendrick Smock, 
William Wikoff, 
, Hugh Newell, 
Cornelius Stewart, 
Timothy Dorsey, 
John Van Cleave, 
Gilbert Shearney, 



A. Zutphin, 
Edward Moore, 
Ebenezer Kerr, 
John Longstreet, 
John Schenck, 
John Cainpbell, 
John Errickson, 
Joel Bedel, 
Nicholas Cottril, 
David Smith, 
George Crookshank, 
John Nivisink, jr. 
Nicholas Clark, 
John Yeatman, 
Alexander Eastman, 
James Yeatman, 
John Lane, 
William Gordon, 
Michael Errickson, 
Nehemiah Tilton, 
Elias Bowne, 
David Loyd, 
Isaac Johnston, 
Joseph Morford, 
Jacob Lane, 
John Johnston, 
Adam Boice, sen. 
William Lane, 
John Reid, 
William Forman, 
David Baird, 
Matthew Anderson, 
Henry Berry, 
John Holmes, sen. 
Garrit Wikoff, 
Richard Pippenger, 
Timothy Gordon, 
Lewis Gordon, 
George Taylor, 
Samuel Pease, 
Henry Vanderbilt, 
Albert Hendrickson, - 
James Vankirk, 
William Shelft, 
Benjamin M'Donald, 
Cornelius Clark, B. S. 
Cornelius Sutphin, 
Daniel Emmons, 
John Berry, 
James M'Knight, 
John Simermore, 
John Hampton, 
Aaron Reid, 
Jonathan Clayton, 
Joseph Emley, 
Joseph Knox, 
Jonathan Enobly, 
William Voorhees, 
Josiah Holmes, 
John Covenhoven, 
Cornel's Covenhoven, 
Samuel Henderson, 
John M'Connill, 



374 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



Koert Van Schoick. 
Joseph Combs, 
Matthew Rue, 
John Reid, 
David Vanderveer, 
Richard Tice, 
John Antonidas, 
John Van Cleave, 
John Clark. B. S. 
Hend"k Covenhoven, 
Aaron Sutphin, 
Jonathan Clayton, 
James Hoajjland, 
Tunis Vanderveer, 
James Jonner, 
John Morford, 
Anthony Holmes, 
"William Covert, 
•Samuel H:: _ 
John Brine. 
"William Brindlev, 
John De GrarT, ' 
Richard Marlat, 
Joseph Vanderreer, 
"William Cheeseman, 
"Wm. Wilhamson, jr. 



John Anmack, 
William Postens, 
James Sickels. 
Jacob Vanderveer, 
John Covenhoven, 
Tunis Voorhees, 
Thomas Erickson, 
George Clinton, 
Ebenezer Hart, 



John Emmons, 
Moses Mount, 

\ James Runnels, 
Richard Chew, 
Albert Covenhoven. 
John Barkalow, 
Abraham Vangelder, 
Wilham Van Schoick, 
Charles Gilmore, 



Abra'm Hendrickson, John Schenck, 



Peter Gordon, 
James M*Chesney, 
John Vanderveer, 
Charles Postey, 
Andrew Mi 
Derrick Sutphin, 
Joseph Goodenough 
Benjamin Til ton, 
Richard R<: g 
Arthur Williamson, 
Richard Sutphin, 
William Covenhoven, George Brindley, 
Abraham Sutphin, Elihu Chadwick, 
John Reid, I., -ha Shepherd, 

Jonathan Reid, John Chadwick, 

,n Cleave, Daniel Herbert, 



Thomas Walling, 
Eleazer Cottrill, 
Edmund Robinson, 
James Holmes, 
Humphrey Willet, 
Jonathan Pew, 
Richard Pool, 
Thomas Cottrill, 
Garrit Vanderveer, 
Hendrick Vounk, 
Tunis Forman, 



Richard Russel, 
Job Throckmorton, 
Samuel Forman, 
Wm. A. Covenhoven, 
John Cooke, 
Daniel Randolph, 
Moses Robbins, 
Daniel Gr:_-_ 
William Jenkins, 
Reuben Potter, 
Wilham Wilbert, 
Alburtus Showber, 
Jacob Tilton, 
Jacob Lane, 
Samuel Bigelow, 
Aaron Buck, 
John Tilton, 
John Tilton, jr. 
William Brown, 
Thomas Smith, 
Joshua Studson, 
David Ray, 
Abel Aikin, 
David Crawford, 
Cornelius Lane. 



The number of signers to this association is 436. 



MORRIS COUNTY 



M f.f.i? corsTY was taken from Hunterdon county by act of As- 
sembly of 15th March. 173^-9. It included in its original limits 
the territory now comprised by Sussex and Warren counties, and 
"was named after Lewis Morris, at that time governor of the pro- 
vince. The extreme length of the county X. and iS. is 31 miles; 
average breadth E. and W. 2 1 miles. It is bounded X. by Passaic co., 
NE. by Pas-aic co.. E. by E--^x co., S. by Somerset and Hunterdon 
co'&, and NW. by Warren and Sussex counties. The northern and 
rn portion of the county is very mountainous ; the remaining 
portions generally level or undulating. There is however a moun- 
tainous tract 13 miles long, running northeasterly acros- the central 
part of the county, called Trowbridge mountain, and an elevation 
known as the Long hill, extending 9 miles on the SE. boundary. 
The southern part of the county is of the primitive formation, and 
the northern the transition. The county is well watered by the 
lie river and its tributaries, and the south branch of the Rari- 
tan. The Morris canal runs centrally across the county, and the 
Morris and Essex railroad, terminating at Morristown, connects 
that village with the city of Newark. Immense beds of magnetic 
iron ore abound in the mountains of the north and west. In 1840, 
there were manufactured 1,475 tons of cast, and 5,970 of bar-iron : 
capital invested -S44C- 



MORRIS COUNTY. 375 

The county is divided into the ten following townships, of which 
Morris, Hanover. Pequannock, Mendham, Roxbury, and Washing- 
ton, were incorporated in 1798. 

Chatham, Mendham, Randolph, Washington. 

Chester, Morris, Roxbury, 

Hanover, Pequannock, Jefferson, 

The population of Morris county in 1800 was 17,750 ; in 1810, 
21,828; in 1820, 21,368 ; in 1830, 23,666 ; in 1840, 25,861. 



CHATHAM. 

This township was formed from Hanover and Morris in 1806. 
It is 8 miles long, with an average width of about 4 miles. It is 
bounded N. by Hanover, E. by the Passaic river, separating it from 
Livingston, Springfield, and New Providence, Essex co., SW. and 
W. by Morris. The soil is generally fertile, and the surface level 
or undulating, except in the SE., where it is hilly. There are in 
the township 10 stores, 1 fulling-m., 2 saw-m., 2 grist-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. 836,800 ; 4 academies, 245 students ; 5 schools, 185 
scholars. Pop. 2,138. 

The Great or Morris Co. swamp, lying in the townships of Chatham and Morris, is 
about 7 miles long, and on an average 3 miles wide, extending from NE. to SW., its 
upper end 1J miles west of the village of Chatham, its lower, one mile east of Basking- 
ridge, where its waters enter the Passaic river, bounded east and south by a high ridge 
of land called Long hill, northerly by another high ridge near New Vernon. This 
swamp it appears was once a pond or lake, the bed of which inclined or sloped from N. 
to S., and from E. to W., and was undulating. The whole was, until recently, covered 
by a heavy growth of timber. About one half of the tract is cleared, and drained by 
ditches, and near the upland is susceptible of tillage, the rest beincr excellent meadows, 
producing very large crops of good " foul-meadow" hay. In the upper or eastern sec- 
tion is a large tract of turf or peat, suitable for fuel, of various depths, in the midst of 
which are found limbs, knots, and trunks of trees, many feet below the surface : and 
under this a very thin coat of white sand, covering a hard blue, argillaceous substratum, 
nearly or quite impermeable to water. In the western part the soil is principally clay. 
In the midst, and throughout the whole swamp, there are numerous ridges of dry land 
rising like islands, of a sandy soil, and those uncleared covered with chestnut timber. 
The whole is susceptible of being drained, and made into productive meadow, there 
being 17 feet fall in the length of the swamp. The slope and undulating surface of the 
bed is shown by the difference in the thickness or depth of the superimposed covering, 
which to the eye appears a perfect level, except the ridges or islands which rise a few 
feet above it. This covering is several feet deeper in the upper than in the lower part, 
where it empties into the river ; this difference being nearly or quite equal to the whole 
descent, showing that it may have been deposited from the highlands surrounding : in- 
deed much of it is alluvion. From these and other facts, we infer that this swamp was 
once a pond or lake. -Of the time when, or how long it existed, or since it ceased to 
be, we have not facts, nor room for speculation. 

Columbia, Green Village, and East Madison, contain each about 
20 or 30 dwellings. At the latter place is an academy used by the 
Methodists for public worship. 

The village of Madison, once called " Bottle Hill,"* is on the line 

* In relation to the origin of the name Bottle hill, tradition is somewhat vague. The 
first, and perhaps the most probable, is, that in early days two or more Indians broke a 
bottle as they came to quench their thirst at the spring, then bubbling from the side of 



376 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



of the Morris and Essex railroad, 4 miles SE. of Morristown. The 
above view, taken near the railroad track, shows a part only of the 
village. The public building on the right is the academy, and that 
in the distance the Catholic church. There are also in the place 




View in Madison. 

about 100 dwellings, a handsome church belonging to the Presbyte- 
rian denomination, and a private boarding-school. This village 
was settled previous to the American revolution, principally by 
emigrants from Long Island. The following are the names of some 
of the early settlers, with the places where they located. Ananias 
Halsey lived and kept a public house on the place now owned 
by Robert Albright.* Ellis Cook resided where now stands the 
new dwelling of Mrs. Eliza Cook. He was a blacksmith, and had 
his shop where the academy now stands. John Harris resided on 
the place now occupied by Lilly Cook. Aaron Burnet settled on 
the place at present owned by John B. Miller, — the house now 
down. He died at the age of 100 years. He had four sons, James, 
Matthias, William, and Aaron ; the first of whom occupied the 



the hill] where now stands the carriage-house of Mr. Joseph S. Sayre, at that time sur- 
rounded with trees. A second tradition is, that at a certain time now unknown, two men 
engaged in fighting broke a bottle. A third tradition is, that a suspended bottle was the 
sign of the first tavern in the place ; kept in a house then standing in the rear of the 
well .in Mr. SherriU's garden. 

In this then the traditions agree, that the name Bottle hill originated in the use of 
the bottle, so common in those days of dram-drinking. And though the origin of this 
name adds little to the early fame of the village, yet the origin of her present name is 
recorded as her peculiar crown of glory. As the former originated in the use, the latter 
originated in the disuse of the bottle. Early in the progress of the grand temperance 
reformation, that has passed over the land as the angel of mercy to the lost, the worthy 
citizens in council assembled, decreed that the bottle was no longer deserving a place in 
their domestic circles, and hence that it should be broken, and the name effaced from 
the latter history of the village, and also unanimously that the name of the village 
should no more be Bottle Hill, but Madison, a name previously given to, and inscribed 
on the side wall of her fine two-story brick academy. 

* The first public house in the place was kept by David Brant, in a house then standing 
where now is Mr. SherriU's garden, and as that went down, Ananias Halsey commenced 
where Mr. Robert Albrisnt now lives. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 377 

corner where Mr. Sherrill resides. Josiah Miller resided where 
his son Major Miller lives. Obadiah Lum settled where Mr. Jona- 
than Harris resides. David Bruen came from Newark and settled 
where Capt. Mallaby resides. The first Presbyterian church in 
this region was located at Whipany. The church in this village 
was formed from that about the time of the formation of the one 
at Hanover, and was denominated " the church of South Hanover." 
On the tombstone of the first pastor, in the old churchyard, is the 
following inscription : " In memory of the Rev. Azariah Horton, 
for 25 years pastor of this church. Died March 27, 1777, aged 62 
years." This makes the organization of the church about the year 
1752. The old church which stood in the graveyard, it is supposed, 
was erected some time previous, probably about 1748. The pre- 
sent handsome brick church, styled "the 1st Presbyterian church 
of Chatham," now ornamenting the S. part of the village, was 
dedicated in 1825. The Rev. Mr. Richards succeeded Mr. Horton. 
He left Rahway on account of the troubles incident to the war, 
remained but a short time, and then returned. He was succeeded 
by the Rev. Ebenezer Bradford, who left about 1781, and the Rev. 
Alexander Miller came and remained three or four years, who was 
in turn succeeded by the Rev. Asa Hillyer, D.D., pastor about ten 
years. He was succeeded by the Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine, 
D.D., who was pastor between 9 and 10 years, and was then suc- 
ceeded by the Rev. J. G. Bergen, pastor about fifteen years. After 
a vacancy of about two years, he was succeeded by the Rev. Alex. 
G. Frazer, pastor about one and a half years. The present pastor, 
the Rev. Clifford S. Arms, was settled in the autumn of 1832. The 
old parsonage is the house now owned and occupied by Dr. H. P. 
Green. The village academy was erected in 1809 ; and the Ca- 
tholic church, a neat edifice, in 1838, by the descendants of some 
French families who emigrated from Guadaloupe about half a 
century since. 

In the "hard winter of 1780," when Washington lay at Morris- 
town with his army, a party of British cavalry (says tradition) left 
New York with the design of taking him prisoner. They came 
by the way of Elizabethtown. During the night a violent storm 
came on, of hail, snow, and rain, forming a thick crust, which cut 
their horses' feet, and rendered the road so impassable, that, when 
daylight dawned, having got no further than this village, they 
deemed it prudent to return. Standing in fear of their guide, an 
American spy, they enclosed him in the centre of a hollow square, 
and thus rode with their swords drawn. 

The following is extracted from an ancient newspaper : 

Sept. 18, 1782. — Last Thursday morning, a person in the neighborhood of Battle Hill, 
near the Great Swamp, being early up, discovered two armed men pass by, — one of which 
he supposed to be Caleb Sweezy, jun., late an inhabitant of Black River, but who had 
joined the enemy, and, having many connections in this county who harbored him, was 
enabled, by their information and assistance, to commit several atrocious robberies, which 
induced the governor to offer $200 reward for apprehending him. This person who saw 
them pass gave information, when Capt. Carter and his officers, with 10 of their men, 

48 



378 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



took the necessary steps for the apprehending them, and, knowing the propinquity be. 
tween Isaac Badgeley's wife and Sweezy, sent a person to lay in ambush near said 
Badgeley's house, to be a spy upon their conduct, and, if possible, find out their lurk- 
ing-place, — when he saw Badgeley's wife carry victuals into the swamp twice. Be- 
ing thus fully informed, the party entered the swamp some miles from Badgeley's house, 
to prevent the least alarm being given, and proceeded within a few rods of the house, 
(placing sentinels, as they passed, at the avenues it was supposed they would endeavor 
to make their escape through,) when they suddenly came upon them ; and being unpre- 
pared for defence, the flints being out of their pistols, they endeavored to make their 
escape by flight, — when Sweezy received the fire of one of the sentinels, which put a 
period to his existence in a few minutes. The other one, John Parr, who was concerned 
in the robbery of Mr. Stewart's house, at Hackettstown, was slightly wounded, and 
taken, and is now confined in Morristown jail. 




Central View in Chatham. 

Chatham is a village containing 34 houses and 220 inhabitants, 
3^ miles E. of Madison, and on the line of Morris and Essex cos. 
From the hills in the vicinity, a fine view is had of the broad and 
fertile valley of the Passaic river, which stream passes through the 
village. The annexed view was taken near the academy, in the 
street on which the village is mainly built, and shows on the right 
the Methodist, and in the distance the Presbyterian church, a neat 
edifice of wood, erected in 1832. Immediately opposite this church 
is seen a frame dwelling, in which Washington for a time had his 
head-quarters. The " Short hills," in Essex co., appear in the dis- 
tance. The Morris and Essex railroad passes near the village. 



CHESTER. 

Chester was formed from Roxbury in 1799. It is bounded N. by 
Roxbury and Randolph, E. by Mendham, S. by Bedminster, Som- 
erset co., and W. by Washington. It is 8 m. W. of Morristown. 
The surface is generally undulating, and the soil fertile. The 
Washington turnpike, which runs from Morristown to Easton, Pa., 
passes centrally through it. There are in the township 1 Presby- 
terian and 1 Congregational church, 2 public houses, 3 mercantile 
stores, 2 academies, 3 grain-m., 5 saw-m., and 3 clover-m. ; cap. in 
manufac. $23,250 ; 7 schools, 382 scholars. Pop. 1,321. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 379 

The inhabitants are mostly farmers, and the soil has been much 
improved within the last few years, by the use of lime. Formerly 
much attention was paid to the culture of orchards of apple-trees ; 
but they are now neglected, and peach-orchards are rising in their 
places. The village of Chester, where the post-office is located, 
12 m. W. of Morristown, contains two churches and about 50 dwell- 
ings. The first permanent settlement in the township was made 
by emigrants from Long Island, who founded the Presbyterian 
church. 



HANOVER. 

This township was first formed about the year 1700 by the name 
Whipponong, and was then included in the limits of Hunterdon 
county ; the name of Hanover was given about 1740. It is about 
10 miles long, with an average width of 5| miles. It is bounded 
N. by Pequannock, E. by Livingston, Essex co., S. by Morris and 
Chatham, and W. by Randolph. The surface on the west is moun- 
tainous ; elsewhere, generally hilly or undulating. The Rocka- 
way river flows on the N. and the Passaic on the E. boundary. 
It is also well watered by several smaller streams flowing into 
Rockaway river, among which are Whipany and the Parcipany, a 
small stream emptying into Whipany river. On these streams are 
probably more mill-seats and mills than in any other township of 
equal territory in the state, there being 21 mills, viz : — 4 cotton, 1 
dyewood, 1 machine, 1 extensive rolling, 6 saw, 5 flouring, and 3 
extensive paper-mills ; besides five forges. In prosperous times, 
these establishments give life and energy to the business of the 
country. The district of Troy, a very fertile tract, 2 miles long 
by one wide, in good seasons fattens from one to three hundred 
beeves of the largest kind, and sells about 500 tons of hay annually. 
The county poorhouse, containing about 120 paupers, is in this 
township. There are in Hanover 13 schools, 597 scholars. Popu- 
lation 3,909. 

The township was first settled about 1685, soon after the settle- 
ment of Newark, and is supposed to have been the earliest settle- 
ment within the limits of what is now Morris and Sussex counties. 
The first settlers were principally from Newark, Elizabethtown, 
East Hampton, L. I., New England and England. They were pro- 
bably drawn thither by the abundance of iron ore in the country, as 
they erected several forges and entered extensively into the manu- 
facture ; hence the locality soon after, at that early day, was called 
" the Old Forges." The ore was brought on the backs of horses 
from a locality about 20 miles west ; here manufactured, and then 
conveyed in the same manner over the Orange mountains to New- 
ark. The following are names of some few of the early emigrants, 
whose descendants are living in this place and region : Timothy, 
Samuel, and Joseph Tuttle, three brothers, from the N. of England, 



380 MORRIS COUNTY. 

near the river Tweed ; Joseph and Abraham Kitchel, brothers, and 
Francis Lindsley, all from England. 

The first church, a Presbyterian, in Morris county, was built in 
Whipany in 1718, on the N. bank of the river, on a portion of the 
land* since occupied as a public burying-ground. The congrega- 
tion extended over a considerable portion of the territory now occu- 
pied by those of Morristown, Madison, Parcipany, Hanover, and 
Chatham village. The first clergyman was the Rev. Nathaniel 
Hubbel : he was succeeded by the Rev. John Nutman, about the 
year 1730, who left in 1745. The Rev. Jacob Green was installed 
in Nov., 1746, and preached in the original church edifice at Whip- 
any until 1755, when a new meeting-house was erected at Hanover 
Neck, and also one at Parcipany. The congregation vacated the 
old church and divided between the two new ones. A few years 
previous, in 1740, the people 8 W. of here withdrew and formed a 
church at Morristown, and, about 1748, those in the S. part of the 
parish formed one at Bottle Hill, now Madison. The Rev. Mr. 
Green, for about two years, preached at Parcipany and Hanover, 
when he remained solely with the latter until his decease, May 
24th, 1790, thus making his ministry a duration of nearly 44 years. 
He was an active and devout man, and did much to enstamp upon 
that generation a high moral and religious character. Rev. Calvin 
White succeeded, June 29, 1791, and was dismissed at his request 
Nov. 17, 1795. His ministry, though brief, was useful. Not long 
after he was connected with the Episcopal church, and, as reported, 
finally became a Catholic clergyman. The venerable Aaron Con- 
dit, who had some years previous been installed pastor of a church 
in New York state, commenced his ministerial labors at Hanover, 
in July, 1790, and was installed the 13th Dec. following. Having 
held the pastoral office upwards of 35 years, his health so far failed 
that, at his request, his relation with the church was dissolved in 
October, 1831. In a recent half-century sermon preached by him 
to the people of his late charge, it was stated, that in the course of 
his ministry he had preached there and elsewhere about 4,300 
times; attended 043 funerals; administered the Lord's supper 100 
times; baptized 170 adults and 705 infants; and received to the 
communion of the church 627 persons. During his pastoral rela- 
tion ten young men, who professed religion there, became ministers ; 
and nine pious females the wives of clergymen. The Rev. Mr. 
James Tuttle (it is believed) was the first clergyman settled at 
Parcipany; he was ordained April, 1768. His successors were 

* The following is extracted from an ancient deed of this ground : " I, John Rich- 
ards, of Whipponong, in the county of Hunterdon, schoolmaster, for and in considera- 
tion of the love and affection that I have for my Christian friends and neighbors in 
Whipponong, and for a desire to promote and advance the public interest, and especially 
for those who shall covenant and agree to erect a suitable meeting-house for the public 
worship of God, 3J acres of land, situate and being in the township of Whipponong, on 
that part called Percipponong, on the northwestward side of Whipponong river : only for 
public use, improvement, and benefit, for a meeting-house, school-house, burying-yard, 
and training-field, and such like uses, and no other. Dated Sept. 2d., 1718. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 381 

Dr. Darby, Rev. Joseph Grover, Rev. Mr. Benedict, Rev. Samuel 
Phelps, and the present pastor, (1843,) the Rev. John Ford, settled 
in 1816. 

Boonton, 1 1 miles N. of Morristown, on the N. boundary of Han- 
over, and on the line of the Morris canal and on Rockaway river, 
has the most extensive iron manufactories of any village in the 
state. The works belong to the East Jersey Iron Manufacturing 
Company. " They were erected in 1830 — with some important addi- 
tions at a later period, at the original cost of $283,000 — and consist 
of a blast furnace 42 feet high, which produced at its last blast 
1,G50 tons good pig-iron ; and four blooming forges, capable of 
making 1,000 tons annually of malleable iron. The rolling depart- 
ment of this establishment consists of a train for rolling sheets ; one 
for hoops ; one for braziers' rods ; one for band iron ; one for the 
various sizes of merchant bars, including nail bars and nail plates, 
and also including tires for locomotive engines ; one set of slitters, 
for rods and shapes of various sizes ; and a large train of prepara- 
tory rolls sufficient to furnish stock for the action of all other trains. 
The sheet mill is one of the best in the United States, and has turned 
out, in a single month, 112 tons of good sheet iron. 

" This company annually produce pig-iron to the amount of 40,000 
dollars, and wrought iron, of the various sizes and kinds, of the 
value of 280,000 dollars. Of this sum, more than two hundred 
thousand dollars is paid out, directly and indirectly, for home labor. 
The materials of which iron is composed are of little comparative 
value, in their primitive state. They consist principally of ores, 
limestone, coals, fire-sand, and clay ; all of which are estimated at 
low prices until labor has been bestowed on them in mining and 
transportation." There are also in the place a Presbyterian church, 
established in 1831, 3 stores, and 31 dwellings. The scenery here 
is uncommonly picturesque ; the river descends in a cascade of 
about 30 feet fall, and furnishes abundance of water-power. The 
population is about 350, and is composed principally of English 
emigrants. 

Whipany, anciently spelled Whipponong, is pleasantly situated 
in the valley of the river of the same name, 4 miles NE. of Mor- 
ristown. It contains 8 mills, viz. 1 clothing, 4 paper, and 3 cotton 
mills ; 1 machine and 3 blacksmith shops ; 3 stores, a tavern, 2 
churches, and, within the circle of a mile, (500 inhabitants. In 1833 
those of this village connected with the Presbyterian church at 
Hanover left, and organized as the first Presbyterian church of 
Whipany by the Presbytery of Newark, with 40 members, under 
the pastoral charge of the Rev. Wm. W. Newel, of South Boston. 
They withdrew from the Presbytery, and united, July 31, 1837, with 
the Congregational association of New York. Their church edi- 
fice was dedicated June 19, 1834. The Methodist chapel was built 
in 1825. The first military company in Morris co. was formed in 
this vicinity, under Capt. Morris, in the fall of 1775. Many of the 
young men volunteered for a year's campaign to the north. The 



382 MORRIS COUNTY. 

inhabitants of this place, excepting a single family, were ardent 
patriots. 

Parcipany, formerly named Parcipponong, 7 miles N. of Morris- 
town, contains a Methodist church, built in 1830, a Presbyterian 
church, founded in 1755; 5 stores, 2 taverns, an academy, 2 grist- 
mills, and about 40 dwellings scattered along the road. Hanover 
Neck, Littletown, Troy, Denville, and Monroe contain each a few 
dwellings. 

In the spring of 1842, while a well was being dug on a declivity 
which rose in its rear about 20 feet in 50 rods, and had been exca- 
vated to the depth of 22 feet, a roaring noise was heard. The per- 
son at work in it was drawn up as soon as possible, swiftly pur- 
sued by a gushing tide, which has since been running over the top 
in a strong and rapid stream. In the same year there was born in 
the township a pair of twins, not connected like the Siamese, by an 
umbilical ligament, but by the whole breadth of their bodies, from 
the middle of the breast to the bottom of the abdomen. Although 
not separate, their persons appeared entirely distinct and perfect in 
organization. They survived their birth only a short time. 



MENDIIAM. 

This township is about 6 m. square ; bounded N. by Randolph, 
E. by Morris, S. by Bernard and Bedminster, Somerset co., and W. 
by Chester. The surface is generally hilly, and on the N. moun- 
tainous. The soil is fertile, productive in wheat and grass, and 
great numbers of peaches are raised. Limestone is quarried to a 
considerable extent on the North Branch of the Raritan. The 
township is well watered, and important branches of the Raritan 
and Passaic take their rise within a mile of each other. There are 
2 grist, 1 saw, 1 fulling m., 1 woollen, 1 cotton factory ; cap. in 
manufac. $29,800 ; 3 academies, 95 students ; 5 schools, 183 schol- 
ars. Pop. 1,378. 

The earliest regular settlement in Mendham was on the North 
Branch of the Raritan. As early as 1713 there were some few 
squatters' cabins. At that time land was taken up by the Wills 
family, but they did not settle until many years after. The village 
of Mendham is in the central part, 6i miles SW. of Morristown. 
Among the first settlers in the vicinity were the Byram, Cary, 
Thompson, and Drake families. The grave-stone of the elder Eb- 
enezer Byram, which is now standing in the graveyard, records 
his death Au?;. 9th, 1753. aged 61. When he came, the locality 
bore the Indian name, Roxiticus. The name of a tavern which he 
established was " The Black Horse," from its sign. Tradition as- 
serts the neighborhood was rendered famous by the pranks of a 
wild crew of fellows who lived there. Mr. Byram having been 
told the nature of the society he had settled in, replied, "I'll mend 
'em" — an assertion he carried out literally : hence the name, 
Mendham. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



383 



The village of Mendham contains a Methodist and a Presbyte- 
rian church, an academy for males, and the " Hill-top" Seminary, 
for females ; several stores, 2 carriage establishments, and about 
50 dwellings. When a young man, the Hon. Samuel L. Southard 
taught school in Mendham. A considerable number of young men 
have been prepared for college in this place, who finally entered 
into the ministry of the Presbyterian church. 




Presbyterian Church, Mendham. 

The Presbyterian church, standing on a beautiful and command- 
ing elevation in the southern part of the village, is seen, in some 
directions, for a distance of many miles ; and it is asserted that 
when the atmosphere is very clear it can be discerned from eleva- 
ted land in Pennsylvania, distant 30 or 40 miles. The oldest stone 
in the ancient graveyard adjoining this church, is that of Stephen 
Cooke, who died Dec. 16th, 1749. The first person there buried 
was Mrs. Drake, in 1745. There are two other burying-grounds, 
though unused for many years. One is on a hill a quarter of a 
mile E. of the N. Branch of the Raritan, within a few rods of the 
Washington turnpike ; the other a mile S. of the village, on the 
Baldwin farm, — which latter is now a cultivated field. 

Some time previous to 1740, a small building was erected for 
public worship by the Presbyterians, on the Morris turnpike, about 
a mile and a half west of the village. In October, 1743, Mr. Eliab 
Byram, from Bridge water, Mass., commenced preaching. In 1745 
a new church was erected on the hill, which remained until a new 
one was built in 1816. In 1835 it was burnt, and the present 
handsome edifice reared. The following are the names of the pas- 
tors of this society, with the dates of their settlement. Eliab By- 
ram, May, 1744 ; John Pierson, (son of President Pierson, of Yale 
College,) spring of 1753 ; Francis Peppard, 1764 ; Thomas Lewis, 
spring of 1769; John Joline, May, 1778; Amzi Armstrong, Nov. 
29, 1796 ; Samuel H. Cox, July 1, 1817 ; Philip C. Hay, June 19, 
1821 ; John Vanlieu, June 19, 1824 ; and Daniel H. Johnson, the 
present pastor, June 27, 1826. Ralstonville and Water Street are 



384 MORRIS COUNTY. 

small collections of houses in the township, — the first 1| miles W. 
and the last 3^ m. NE, of Mendham. 

There was anciently an Indian village on the farm of Col. J. W. 
Drake, on the hill-side about 40 rods from his dwelling. The 
houses were scattered continuously around the hill. Indian arrow- 
heads, stones, and other relics, have there been occasionally 
ploughed up. In the winter of 1779-80, when the American head- 
quarters were at Morristown, a portion of the army were barracked 
in rude log huts, in this and Morris townships. The head-quarters 
of two of the officers, Col. Robinson and Chevalier Massillon, a 
French officer, were at the dwelling now occupied by Col. J. W. 
Drake, about a mile from the village, on the road to Morristown, — 
at that time the residence of his grandfather. On the breaking 
out of the mutiny in the Pennsylvania line, the officers were ex- 
tremely alarmed, and, in one or two instances, ran from their camp 
barefooted in the snow for 2 or 3 miles. Despairing of their coun- 
try's cause, some of them wept. When here, the soldiers lived 
miserably : broken down by disease and want, they depredated 
upon the inhabitants, became filthy in their persons, and infested 
with vermin. When the sickness was at its height, no less than 
forty coffins were brought at one time, and piled against the barn 
of Mr. Drake, which, together with the church, was used as an 
hospital, — the latter having been divested of its seats for that pur- 
pose. Callous and inured to the horrors that beset them, the sol- 
diers, regardless of all, were seen playing cards upon coffins con- 
taining the remains of their deceased comrades. 



MORRIS. 

Morris is bounded N. by Hanover, E. by Chatham ; S. by Warren, 
Somerset co., and New Providence, Essex co. ; W. by Mendham 
and Bernard, Somerset co. It is about 13 m. long, and 5 broad. 
The surface is generally hilly and rolling, with occasional plains ; 
the soil clay and sandy loam, and much of it highly cultivated. 
Besides Morristown, there are several small villages or localities : 
they are Logansville, New Vernon, Morris's Plains, and Spring 
Valley. There are in Morris 2 paper-m., 5 grist-m., G saw-m. ; 
cap. in manufac. $137,380 ; 3 academies, 116 students ; 10 schools, 
341 scholars. Pop. 4,013. 

Morristown, the seat of justice for Morris co., is situated on an 
elevated plain, 50 m. from Trenton, 19 from Newark, and 26 from 
New York. It is one of the most beautiful villages in the Union. 
It is laid out into streets crossing at right angles, in some instances 
adorned with trees, and many fine private dwellings, with ample 
yards and garden plots, giving an air of neatness and comfort. In 
the centre of the town is a beautiful public square, on which front 
many stores, the first Presbyterian church, and one of the most mag- 
nificent hotels in the country. The village is supplied with pure 
spring water by an aqueduct, the head of which is over a mile dis- 



MORRIS COUNTY. 385 

tant. Through it pass several stages, and the Morris and Essex 
railroad, which has lately been fitted up with an H rail, connects 
it with the city of Newark. Cars commenced running on this road 
in January, 1838. There are in the village about 25 stores, several 
extensive carriage manufactories, "the Speedwell iron works," 
many mechanic shops, 2 newspaper printing-offices, 2 banks, the 
county buildings, 2 Presbyterian, 1 Episcopal, 1 Baptist, and 1 
Methodist churches, and a population of about 2,000. 

Morristown was probably settled between the years 1700 and 1720, 
and in 1740 the first Presbyterian church was established. In the 
war of the revolution, the village numbered a population of about 
250. The first courthouse in the county was built in 1755: it 
stood on the N. corner of the green, 2 or 3 rods south of where the 
U. S. Hotel now stands. The green was then an open common. 
This building was a plain wooden structure, with a cupola and 
bell. Its sides, as well as roof, were shingled. The present court- 
house was built 18 or 20 years since, at an expense of $25,000 ; 
and it is one of the handsomest in the state, being finished finely 
both externally and internally. It stands on rising ground, at the 
foot of a hill, and has a neat yard in front, adorned with shrubbery. 
Immediately back of the courthouse, on the hill, are the ruins of a 
fort built in the revolution. 



The American army under Washington had their winter-quar- 
ters at Morristown and vicinity, on two different occasions. The 
first time was in Jan., 1777, immediately after the battles of Tren- 
ton and Princeton. The second was during the winter of 1779-80. 
The Pennsylvania line were also stationed here in the succeeding 
winter. 

The first season, Washington quartered in the old Freeman tav- 
ern, which stood on the north side of the green. While here, he 
was initiated into the mysteries of free-masonry, in the Morris ho- 
tel, in the room over where the bar-room now is. That building 
was built for a commissaries' storehouse, and the upper part reserv- 
ed for a ball-room and a masons' lodge. The dwelling occupied 
by Washington as his head-quarters, in the winter of 1779-80, is 
situated about half a mile east of the public square, on the New- 
ark and Morristown turnpike, and is now the residence of Gabriel 
Ford, Esq. It is of brick, covered with wood, and painted white. 
Then it was the residence of the widow of Col. Jacob Ford, (the 
father of the present resident,) who commanded the 1st regiment 
of Morris co. militia during Washington's retreat through the state. 
The house fronts the south. The general and his suite occupied 
the whole building, excepting the two rooms east of the entry, 
which were retained by the family. The front room, west of the 
door, was his dining-room, and that east, in the second story, his 
sleeping apartment. There was a small log kitchen attached 
to the eastern end, used by Washington's cook, and also a larger 
log structure at the west end, in which Washington, Hamilton, and 

49 



386 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



Tilghman had their offices. Two sentinels paraded in front, and 
two in the rear constantly, day and night. The life-guard, com- 
posed of about 250 men, under Gen. Wm. Colfax, were barracked 
in about 50 rude huts which stood in the meadow formed by the 
angle of two roads a few rods SE. of the dwelling. 




Washington's Head-quarters, Morristown. 

Several times in the course of the winter false alarms were giv- 
en of the approach of the enemy. First, a distant report of a gun 
would be heard from the most remote sentinel, and then, one near- 
er, and so on, until the sentinels by the house would fire in turn. 
From them, it would be communicated on towards Morristown, 
until the last gun would be heard far to the westward at camp. 
Immediately, the life-guard would rush from their huts into the 
house, barricade the doors, open the windows, and about five men 
would place themselves at each window, with their muskets brought 
to a charge, loaded and cocked ready for defence. There they 
would remain until the troops from camp were seen marching, with 
music, at quick-step down towards the mansion. During one of 
these alarms, an amusing incident occurred, tending to show the 
coolness of Washington. One evening, about midnight, when some 
of the younger officers were indulging themselves over their wine, 
in the dining-room, an alarm was given. A guest, a young man 
from New York, something of a bon vivant, was in much trepida- 
tion, and rushing out into the entry, exclaimed, " Where's the gen- 
eral ? where's the general ?" Washington, just then coming down 
stairs, met him, and in moderate terms, said, " Be quiet, young man, 
be quiet !" 

Those who knew Washington, while here, have a vivid recollec- 
tion of him. He was reserved, and his mind appeared continually 
in exercise. He united sound judgment with an extraordinary de- 
gree of caution. These traits, with his commanding person, in- 



MORRIS COUNTY. 387 

spired awe, and gave a natural dignity, of a far different kind from 
that evinced in the bearing of inferior military men. The lady of 
the general was here with him, and they both frequently spent their 
evenings with the family. On these occasions, although reserved* 
he was more free than when in company with his officers. He 
sometimes smiled, but is not recollected to have been seen laughing 
heartily, except on one occasion. This was when he was describ- 
ing Arnold's escape, and giving an account of his ludicrous appear- 
ance as he galloped from the Robinson House, near West Point, to 
embark on board the enemy's vessel. 

He was generally accustomed to invite a certain number of offi- 
cers to dine with him every day. An 1 officer, who was. with the 
army while in New Jersey, thus gives his impressions of the 
commander-in-chief, while partaking of the hospitalities of his 
table : — 

It is natural to view with keen attention the countenance of an. illustrious man, with 
the secret hope of discovering in his features some peculiar traces of excellence, which 
distinguishes him from, and elevates him above his fellow mortals. These expectations 
are realized in a peculiar manner in viewing the person of Gen. Washington. His tall 
and noble stature, and just proportions, his fine, cheerful, open countenance, simple and 
modest deportment, arc all calculated to interest every beholder in his favor, and to com- 
mand veneration and respect. He is feared even when silent, and beloved even while 
we are unconscious of the motive. The table was elegantly furnished, and the provisions 
ample, though not abounding in superfluities. The civilities of the table were performed 
by Col, Hamilton, and the other gentlemen of the family, the general and lady being 
seated at the side of the table. In conversation, his excellency's expressive countenance 
is peculiarly interesting and pleasing ; a placid smile is frequently observed on his lips, 
hut a loud laugh, it is said, seldom if ever escapes him. He is polite and attentive to 
each individual at table, and retires after the compliments of a few glasses. Mrs. Wash- 
ington combines, in an uncommon degree, great dignity of manner with the most pleas- 
ing affability, but possesses no striking marks of beauty. I learn from the Virginia offi- 
cers that Mrs. Washington has ever been honored as a lady of distinguished goodness, 
possessing all the virtues which adorn her sex, amiable in" her temper and deportment, 
full of benignity, benevolence, and charity, seeking for objects of affliction and poverty, 
that she may extend to the sufferers the hand of kindness and relief. These surely are 
the attributes which reveal a heart replete with those virtues so appropriate and esti- 
mable in the female character. 

Count Pulaski frequently exercised his corps of cavalry in front 
of the head-quarters. He was an expert horseman, and performed 
many feats of skill. He would sometimes, while his horse was on 
full gallop, discharge his pistol, toss it in the air, catch it by the 
barrel, and throw it ahead as if at an enemy. With his horse still 
on the jump, he would lift one foot out of the stirrup, and, with the 
other foot in, bend to the ground and recover the weapon. Some 
of the best horsemen in the army, the Virginia lighthorse, attempt- 
ed to imitate the feat. Once in three or four trials they would 
succeed in catching the pistol ; none, however, were able to pick it 
up from the ground, but in their attempts got some terrible falls. 

Washington frequently rode out on horseback, accompanied by 
Col. Hamilton and his mulatto servant Bill. On these occasions, 
he was mounted on a light bay horse, so small that his feet nearly 
reached the ground. 

Hosack, in his Life of Clinton, gives the following anecdote, tend- 



388 MORRIS COUNTY. 

ing to show the liberal sentiments of Washington in relation to re- 
ligion : 

While the American army, under the command of Washington, lay in the vicinity of 
Morristown, it occurred that the service of communion (then observed semi-annually 
only) was to be administered in the Presbyterian church in that village. In a morning . 
of the previous week, the general, after his accustomed inspection of the camp, visited 
the house of the Rev. Dr. Jones, then pastor of that church, and, after the usual pre- 
liminaries, thus accosted him : " Doctor, I understand that the Lord's supper is to be 
celebrated with you next Sunday. I would learn if it accords with the canons of your 
church to admit communicants of another denomination." The Doctor rejoined, " Most 
certainly : ours is not the Presbyterian's table, general, but the Lord's ; and hence we 
give the Lord's invitation to all his followers, of whatsoever name." The general re- 
plied, " I am glad of it : that is as it ought to be ; but as I was not quite sure of the 
fact, I thought I would ascertain it from yourself, as I propose to join with you on that 
occasion. ' Though a member of the Church of England, I have no exclusive partiali- 
ties." The doctor assured him of a cordial welcome, and the general was found seated 
with the conimunicants the next Sabbath. 

The following is one of Washington's " General Orders" while at 
Morristown : 

Head-quarters, Morristown, 8th May, 1777. 

As few vices are attended with more pernicious consequences than gaming, — which 
often brings disgrace and ruin upon officers, and injury and punishment upon the sol- 
diery, — and reports prevailing, (which, it is to be feared, are too well founded,) that this 
destructive vice has spread its baleful influence in the army, — and, in a peculiar manner, 
to the prejudice of the recruiting service, — the commander-in-chief, in the most pointed 
and explicit terms, forbids ALL officers and soldiers playing at cards, dice, or at any 
games except those of EXERCISE, for diversion ; it being impossible, if the practice 
be allowed at all, to discriminate between innocent play for amusement, and criminal 
gaming for pecuniary and sordid purposes. 

Officers attentive to their duty will find abundant employment in training and disci- 
plining their men, providing for them, and seeing that they appear neat, clean, and sol- 
dierlike. Nor will any thing redound more to their honor, afford them more solid amuse- 
ment, or better answer the end of their appointment, than to devote the vacant moments 
they may have to the study of military authors. 

The commanding officer of every corps is strictly enjoined to have this order frequently 
read, and strongly impressed upon the minds of those under his command. Any officer 
or soldier, or other persons belonging to or following the army, — either in camp, in quar- 
ters, on the recruiting service, or elsewhere, — presuming, under any pretence, to disobey 
this order, shall be tried by a General Court Martial. The general officers in each di- 
vision of the army are to pay the strictest attention to the due exercise thereof. 

The adjutant-general is to transmit copies of this order to the different departments 
of the army. Also, to execute the same to be immediately published in the gazettes of 
each state, for the information of officers dispersed on the recruiting service. 

By His Excellency's command, Morgan Connor, Adj. Pro tem. 

The army, in the winter of 1779-80, encamped on the hill back 
of the courthouse. Their encampment extended several miles into 
the country. The soldiers lived principally in small log huts ; some 
of the remains of the stone chimneys are yet found in this and 
Mendham townships. Thatcher, in his Military Journal, gives a 
vivid description of the sufferings of the troops during " the hard 
winter of 1779-80." He says : 

Morristown, January 1st, 1780. — A new year commences, but brings no 
relief to the sufferings and privations of our army. Our canvass covering 
affords but a miserable security from storms of rain and snow, and a great 
scarcity of provisions still prevails, and its effects are felt even at head-quar- 
ters, as appears by the following anecdote. "We have nothing but the ra- 



MORRIS COUNTY 389 

tions to cook, Sir," said Mrs. Thomson, a very worthy Irish woman, and 
housekeeper to General Washington. " Well, Mrs. Thomson, you must 
then cook the rations, for I have not a farthing to give you." " If you 
please, Sir, let one of the gentlemen give me an order for six bushels of 
salt." "Six bushels of salt, for what?" "To preserve the fresh beef, 
Sir." One of the aids gave the order, and the next day his Excellency's 
table was amply provided. Mrs. Thomson was sent for, and told that she had 
done very wrong to expend her own money, for it was not known when she 
could be repaid. " I owe you," said his Excellency, " too much already to 
permit the debt being increased, and our situation is not at this moment such 
as to induce very sanguine hope." " Dear Sir," said the good old lady, "it 
is always darkest just before daylight, and I hope your Excellency will for- 
give me for bartering the salt for other necessaries which are now on the 
table." Salt was eight dollars a bushel, and it might always be exchanged 
with the country people for articles of provision.* 

The weather for several days has been remarkably cold and stormy. 
On the 3d instant, we experienced one of the most tremendous snow storms 
ever remembered ; no man could endure its violence many minutes without 
danger of his life. Several marquees were torn asunder and blown down 
over the officers' heads in the night, and some of the soldiers were actually 
covered while in their tents, and buried like sheep under the snow. My 
comrades and myself were aroused from sleep by the calls of some officers 
for assistance ; their marquee had blown down, and they were almost 
smothered in the storm, before they could reach our marquee, only a few 
yards, and their blankets and baggage were nearly buried in the snow. We 
are greatly favored in having a supply of straw for bedding ; over this we 
spread all our blankets, and with our clothes and large fires at our feet, 
while four or five are crowded together, preserve ourselves from freezing. 
But the sufferings of the poor soldiers can scarcely be described ; while on 
duty they are unavoidably exposed to all the inclemency of storms and se- 
vere cold ; at night they now have a bed of straw on the ground, and a sin- 
gle blanket to each man ; they are badly clad, and some are destitute of 
shoes. We have contrived a kind of stone chimney outside, and an opening 
atone end of our tents gives us the benefit of the fire within. The snow is 
now from four to six feet deep, which so obstructs the roads as to prevent 
our receiving a supply of provisions. For the last ten days we have re- 

* In a private letter to a friend, General Washington says, " We have had the virtue 
and patience of the army put to the severest trial. Sometimes it has been five or six 
days together without bread ; at other times as many days without meat ; and once or 
twice two or three days without either. I hardly thought it possible, at one period, that 
we should be able to keep it together, nor could it have been done, but for the exertions of 
the magistrates in the several counties of this state, (Jersey,) on whom I was obliged to 
call, expose our situation to them, and in plain terms declare that we were reduced to 
the alternative of disbanding or catering for ourselves, unless the inhabitants would af- 
ford us their aid. I allotted to each county a certain proportion of flour or grain, and a 
certain number of cattle, to be delivered on certain days ; and, for the honor of the magis- 
trates, and the good disposition of the people, I must add, that my requisitions were 
punctually complied with, and in many counties exceeded. Nothing but this great ex- 
ertion could have saved the army from dissolution or starving, as we were bereft of every 
hope from the commissaries. At one time the soldiers ate every kind of horse food but 
hay. Buckwheat, common wheat, rye, and Indian corn, composed the meal which made 
their bread. As an army, they bore it with the most heroic patience ; but sufferings like 
these, accompanied by the want of clothes, blankets, &c., will produce frequent deser- 
tion in all armies ; and so it happened with us, though it did not excite a single mutiny.'* 



390 MORRIS COUNTY. 

ceived but two pounds of meat a man, and we are frequently for six or 
eight days entirely destitute of meat, and then as long without bread. The 
consequence is, the soldiers are so enfeebled from hunger and cold, as to be 
almost unable to perform their military duty, or labor in constructing their 
huts. It is well known that General Washington experiences the greatest 
solicitude for the sufferings of his army, and is sensible that they in general 
conduct with heroic patience and fortitude. His Excellency, it is under- 
stood, despairing of supplies from the Commissary General, has made appli- 
cation to the magistrates of the state of New Jersey for assistance in pro- 
curing provisions. This expedient has been attended with the happiest suc- 
cess. It is honorable to the magistrates and people of Jersey, that they 
have cheerfully complied with the requisition, and furnished for the present 
an ample supply, and have thus probably saved the army from destruction. 
As if to make up the full measure of grief and embarrassment to the 
Commander-in-chief, repeated complaints have come to him that some of 
the soldiers are in the practice of pilfering and plundering the inhabitants 
of their poultry, sheep, pigs, and even their cattle, from their farms. This 
marauding practice has often been prohibited in general orders, under the 
severest penalties, and some exemplary punishments have been inflicted. 
General Washington possesses an inflexible firmness of purpose, and is de- 
termined that discipline and subordination in camp shall be rigidly enforced 
and maintained. The whole army has been sufficiently warned and cau- 
tioned against robbing the inhabitants on any pretence whatever, and no sol- 
dier is subjected to punishment without a fair trial, and conviction by a 
court-martial. Death has been inflicted in a few instances of an atrocious 
nature, but in general the punishment consists in a public whipping, and 
the number of stripes is proportioned to the degree of offence. The law of Mo- 
ses prescribes forty stripes save one, but this number hasoften been exceeded 
in our camp. In aggravated cases, and with old offenders, the culprit is 
sentenced to receive one hundred lashes or more. It is always the duty of 
the drummers and fifers to inflict the chastisement, and the drum-major must 
attend and see that the duty is faithfully performed. The culprit being se- 
curely tied to a tree or post, receives on his naked back the number of lashes 
assigned him, by a whip formed of several small knotted cords, which some- 
times cut through the skin at every stroke. However strange it may appear, 
a soldier will often receive the severest stripes without uttering a groan, or 
once shrinking from the lash, even while the blood flows freely from his 
lacerated wounds. This must be ascribed to stubbornness or pride. They 
have, however, adopted a method which they say mitigates the anguish in 
some measure ; it is by putting between the teeth a leaden bullet, on which 
they chew while under the lash, till it is made quite flat and jagged. In 
some instances of incorrigible villains, it is adjudged by the court that the 
culprit receive his punishment at several different times, a certain number 
of stripes repeated at intervals of two or three days, in which case the 
wounds are in a state of inflammation, and the skin rendered more sensibly 
tender ; and the terror of the punishment is greatly aggravated. Another 
mode of punishment is that of running the gauntlet ; this is done by a com- 
pany of soldiers standing in two lines, each one furnished with a switch, 
and the criminal is made to run between them, and receive the scourge 
from their hands on his naked back ; but the delinquent runs so rapidly, 
and the soldiers are so apt to favor a comrade, that it often happens in this 
way that the punishment is very trivial ; but on some occasions a soldier is 
ordered to hold a bayonet at his breast to impede his steps. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 391 

March. — The present winter is the most severe and distressing which we 
hare ever experienced. An immense body of snow remains on the ground. 
Our soldiers are in a wretched condition for the want of clothes, blankets, 
and shoes ; and these calamitous circumstances are accompanied by a want 
of provisions. It has several times happened that the troops were reduced 
to one-half, or to one-quarter allowance, and some days have passed without 
any meat or bread being delivered out. The causes assigned for these ex- 
traordinary deficiencies, are the very low state of the public finances, in 
consequence of the rapid depreciation of the continental currency, and 
some irregularity in the commissary's department. Our soldiers, in gene- 
ral, support their sufferings with commendable firmness, but it is feared that 
their patience will be exhausted, and very serious consequences ensue. 

May. — The officers of our army have long been dissatisfied with their 
situation, conceiving that we are devoting our lives to the public service, 
without an adequate remuneration. Our sacrifices are incalculably great, 
and far exceed the bounds of duty, which the public can of right claim from 
any one class of men. Our wages are not punctually paid ; we are fre- 
quently five or six months in arrears, and the continental money which we 
receive is depreciated to the lowest ebb. Congress have established a scale 
of depreciation, by which the continental bills are valued at forty for one of 
silver, and at this rate they have resolved that all their bills shall be called 
in, and a new emission shall be issued, and received at the rate of one for 
forty of the old emission. But the public confidence in paper money is 
greatly diminished, and it is with extreme difficulty that proper supplies can 
be procured to serve the pressing exigencies of our army. I have just seen 
in the newspaper an advertisement offering for an article forty dollars a 
pound, or three shillings in silver. This is the trash which is tendered to 
requite us for our sacrifices, for our sufferings and privations, while in the 
service of our country. It is but a sordid pittance even for our common 
purposes while in camp, but those who have families dependent on them at 
home, are reduced to a deplorable condition. In consequence of this state of 
things, a considerable number of officers have been compelled to resign 
their commissions.* His Excellency General Washington is perplexed 
with an apprehension that he shall lose many of his most experienced and 
valuable officers ; and knowing the injustice which they suffer, he has taken 
a warm interest in their cause, and repeatedly represented to Congress the 
absolute necessity of making such provision as will encourage the officers 
to continue in service to the end of the war. This subject he has pressed 
with such earnestness and solicitude, as at length to effect the desired pur- 
pose. Congress have resolved that all officers of the line of the army who 
shall continue in service till the close of the war, shall be entitled to half 
pay during life, and the depreciation of their pay shall be made good ; and 

* The British in New York counterfeited our paper currency by cartloads, and sent it 
into the country, with the sordid view of increasing its depreciation. The officers of the 
Jersey line addressed a memorial to their state legislature, setting forth " that four months' 
pay of a soldier would not procure for his family a single bushel of wheat ; that the pay 
of a colonel would not purchase oats for his horse ; that a common laborer or express 
rider received four times as much as an American officer." They urged that " unless a 
speedy and ample remedy was provided, the total dissolution of their line was inevitable " 
The officers of whole lines announced their determination to quit the service. The per- 
sonal influence of General Washington was exerted with the officers in preventing their 
adoption of such ruinous measures, and with the states to remove the causes which led 
to them. 



392 MORRIS COUNTY. 

also that they shall receive a number of acres of land, in proportion to their 
rank, at the close of the war. This measure meets the approbation, and is 
satisfactory to those who are to be entitled to the provision ; but it includes 
the officers of the line of the army, only ; it is not extended to the medical 
staff, and they consider themselves pointedly neglected. Why are the offi- 
cers of the line allowed this exclusive act of justice, a compensation for the 
depreciation of the currency? If it is just for the line, what reasons can 
be assigned why the staff officers should not be included, when the deprecia- 
tion is known to be common to both ? Equal justice should be the motto of 
every government. The officers on the staff have a right to think themselves 
treated with the most flagrant injustice. 

A committee have arrived in camp from Congress, for the purpose of in- 
vestigating the circumstances and condition of the army, and of redressing 
our grievances, if in their power. 

On the evening of the first of January, 1781, the Pennsylvania 
line stationed in the vicinity of Morristown, having for some time 
previous evinced great dissatisfaction, broke out into open revolt. 
Below is a full narrative of this event, from the work from which 
the preceding extracts are made. 

The Pennsylvania line of troops, consisting of about two thousand men, 
in winter-quarters in the vicinity of Morristown, have come to the desperate 
resolution of revolting from their officers. Though the Pennsylvania troops 
have been subjected to all the discouragements and difficulties felt by the 
rest of the army, some particular circumstances peculiar to themselves have 
contributed to produce the revolt. When the soldiers first enlisted, the re- 
cruiting officers were provided with enlisting rolls for the term of three 
years, or during the continuance of the war, and as the officers indulged the 
opinion that the war would not continue more than three years, they were 
perhaps indifferent in which column the soldier's name was inserted, leaving 
it liable to an ambiguity of construction. It is clear, however, that a part 
enlisted for three years, and others for the more indefinite term " during the 
war." The soldiers now contend that they enlisted for three years at fur- 
thest, and were to have been discharged sooner, in case the war terminated 
before the expiration of this term. The war being protracted beyond the 
time expected, and the officers knowing the value of soldiers who have been 
trained by three years' service, are accused of putting a different construc- 
tion on the original agreement, and claiming their services during the war. 
The soldiers, even those who actually listed for the war, having received 
very small bounties, complain of imposition and deception, and their case is 
extremely aggravated by the fact, that three half joes have now been offered 
as a bounty to others, who will enlist for the remainder of the war, when 
these veteran soldiers have served three years for a mere shadow of com- 
pensation ! It was scarcely necessary to add to their trying circumstances, 
a total want of pay for twelve months, and a state of nakedness and famine, 
to excite in a soldier the spirit of insurrection. The officers themselves, 
also feeling aggrieved, and in a destitute condition, relaxed in their system 
of camp discipline, and the soldiers occasionally overheard their murmurs 
and complaints. Having appointed a sergeant-major for their commander, 
styling him major-general, and having concerted their arrangements, on the 
first day of the new year they put their mutinous scheme into execution. 
On a preconcerted signal, the whole line, except a part of three regiments, 



MORRIS COUNTY. 393 

paraded under arms without their officers, marched to the magazines, and 
supplied themselves with provisions and ammunition, and seizing six field 
pieces, took horses from General Wayne's stable to transport them. The 
officers of the line collected those who had not yet joined the insurgents and 
endeavored to restore order, but the revolters fired and killed a Captain Bil- 
ling, and wounded several other officers, and a few men were killed on each 
side. The mutineers commanded the party who opposed them to come 
over to them instantly, or they should be bayoneted, and the order was 
obeyed. 

General Wayne, who commanded the Pennsylvania troops, endeavored to 
interpose his influence and authority, urging them to return to their duty, 
till their grievances could be inquired into and redressed. But all was to 
no purpose, and on cocking his pistol, they instantly presented their bayonets 
to his breast, saying, "We respect and love you; often have you led us into the 
field of battle, hut we are no longer under your command; we warn you to he on 
your guard; if you fire your pistols, or attempt to enforce your commands, we 
shall put you instantly to death." General Wayne next expostulated with 
them, expressing his apprehension that they were about to sacrifice the glo- 
rious cause of their country, and that the enemy would avail themselves of 
the opportunity to advance and improve so favorable an occasion. They 
assured him that they still retained an attachment and respect for the cause 
which they had embraced, and that, so far from a disposition to abandon it, 
if the enemy should dare to come out of New York, they would, under his 
and his officers' orders, face them in the field, and oppose them to the ut- 
most in their power. They complained that they had been imposed on and 
deceived respecting the term of their enlistment, that they had received no 
wages for more than a year, and that they were destitute of clothing, and 
had often been deprived of their rations. These were their grievances, and 
they were determined to march to Philadelphia, and demand of Congress 
that justice which had so long been denied them. They commenced their 
march in regular military order, and when encamped at night, they posted 
out piquets, guards, and sentinels. General Wayne, to prevent their dep- 
redations on private property, supplied them with provisions, and he, with 
Colonels Stewart and Butler, officers whom the soldiers respected and loved, 
followed and mixed with them, to watch their motions and views, and they 
received from them respectful and civil treatment. On the third day, the 
insurgent troops reached Princeton, and, by request of General Wayne, they 
deputed a committee of sergeants, who stated to him formally in Avriting 
their claims, as follows. 1st. A discharge for all those, w'ithout exception, 
who had served three years under their original engagements, and had not 
received the increased bounty and re-enlisted for the war. 2d. An imme- 
diate payment of all their arrears of pay and clothing, both to those who 
should be discharged, and those who should be retained. 3d. The residue 
of their bounty, to put them on an equal footing with those recently enlisted, 
and future substantial pay to those who should remain in the service. To 
these demands, in their full extent, General Wayne could not feel himself 
authorized to answer in the affirmative, and a further negotiation was re- 
ferred to the civil authority of the state of Pennsylvania. General Wash- 
ington, whose head-quarters are at New Windsor, on the west side of the 
Hudson, received the intelligence on the 3d instant, and summoned a coun- 
cil of war, consisting of the general and field officers, to devise the most 
proper measures to be pursued on this alarming occasion. Great apprehen- 
sion was entertained that other troops, who have equal cause of discontent 

50 



394 MORRIS COUNTY. 

would be excited to adopt a similar course. It is ordered, that five battalions 
be formed by detachments from the several lines, to be held in perfect readi- 
ness to march on the shortest notice, with four days' provision cooked ; and 
measures, it is understood, are taken to bring the militia into immediate ser- 
vice if required. 

Intelligence of the revolt having reached Sir Henry Clinton, he cherished 
the hope that, by encouraging a rebellion, and turning the swords of our 
own soldiers against their country and brethren, he should have it in his 
power to effect an object, which by his own arms he could not accomplish. 
He immediately dispatched two emissaries, a British sergeant, and one Og- 
den, of New Jersey, to the dissatisfied troops, with written instructions, that 
by laying down their arms, and marching to New York, they should receive 
their arrearages and depreciation in hard cash, and should be well clothed, 
have a free pardon for all past offences, and be taken under the protection 
of the British government, and no military service should be required of 
them, unless voluntarily offered. They were requested to send persons 
to meet agents, who would be appointed by Sir Henry Clinton, to adjust 
the terms of a treaty, and the British general himself passed over to 
Staten Island, having a large body of troops in readiness to act as circum- 
stances might require. The proposals from the enemy were rejected with 
disdain, and the mutineers delivered the papers to General Wayne, but re- 
fused to give up the emissaries, preferring to keep them in durance till their 
difficulties could be discussed and settled. A committee of Congress was 
appointed, who conferred with the executive council of the state of Pennsyl- 
vania, and by the latter authority, an accommodation of the affairs with the 
revolters has been effected, by giving an interpretation favorable to the sol- 
diers, of the enlistments which were for three years or during the war, de- 
claring them to expire at the end of three years. The insurgents now sur- 
rendered the two emissaries into the hands of General Wayne, on the stipu- 
lated condition, that they should not be executed till their affairs should be 
compromised, or in case of failure, the prisoners should be redelivered when 
demanded. They were eventually, however, tried as spies, convicted, and 
immediately executed. A board of commissioners was now appointed, of 
whom three were deputed from the revolters, authorized to determine what 
description of soldiers should be discharged. The result is, that the soldiers 
have accomplished their views ; the committee, from prudential motives, with- 
out waiting for the enlisting papers, complied with their demands, and dis- 
charged from service a majority of the line, on their making oath that they 
enlisted for three years only. The enlisting rolls having since been pro- 
duced, it is found that by far the largest number of those liberated had ac- 
tually enlisted for the whole war. Thus has terminated a most unfortunate 
transaction, which might have been prevented, had the just complaints of 
the army received proper attention in due season. 

About the year 1788, quite an excitement was created in this section by the Morris- 
town Ghost. One Ransford Rogers, a school-teacher from Connecticut, professed to 
have a " deep knowledge of chemistry." This, he pretended, gave him the power of 
raising or dispelling good or evil spirits, through whose agency he could obtain hidden 
treasures. There had long been a tradition among the superstitious of certain treasures 
being hidden in Schoolcy's mountain. Rogers, taking advantage of it, assured certain 
persons that there were immense sums deposited in this place, and that several persons 
had been murdered and buried with it, to keep guard ; and, moreover, that it was abso- 
lutely necessary that their spirits should be raised and consulted, ere the money could be 
obtained. Rogers, having formed his dupes into a company, held secret meetings, and, 
by the exercise of considerable cunning, and through the assistance of some whom he let 



MORRIS COUNTY. 395 

into the secret, impressed them with a belief of his supernatural powers. He would fre- 
quently get them into lonely places at midnight, draw them into " a charmed circle," 
when compositions of gunpowder would mysteriously explode, — which trick wonderfully 
increased their confidence in his power. He pretended to converse with the spirits, from 
whom he ascertained it was necessary for each of the company to raise 12 pounds, and 
as much more as they could, in order to give to the spirits, before the treasure could be 
obtained. In this way he obtained upwards of $1,300. In order to carry on the decep- 
tion, and strengthen their faith, he appeared disguised as a ghost to various members of 
the company. On one occasion, having drunk too freely, he blundered so much that 
suspicion was aroused, and, " the ghost" being tracked to his residence, the whole plot 
exploded. Rogers was imprisoned, but, being bailed out, absconded to parts unknown. 



Daniel Morgan, a distinguished officer in the American army in the war 
of the revolution, was a native of New Jersey, and, it is believed, was born 
at Morristovvn. " He removed into Virginia when quite young, for he had 
been residing there about 20 years when the war began. Little has been 
recorded of his family or his education ; but it is said he was destitute of 
property, and drove a wagon some time for a living. In the expedition of 
Gen. Braddock against the French and Indians on the Ohio, which was un- 
dertaken soon after, he served as a private, at the age of 22 or 23, and was 
wounded. On a charge of contumacy to a British officer in this campaign, 
he is said to have received 500 lashes ! One can hardly conceive of his 
surviving such a severe punishment, and perhaps there was some favor 
shown by the men who gave them. It is mentioned to his honor, that, in 
the war of the revolution, he was humane and generous in his treatment of 
the British officers who fell into his hands. After Braddock's unfortunate 
expedition he resumed his former occupation, and soon acquired property to 
purchase a small farm. For some years after he was 20, he was much 
addicted to boxing and gambling, but soon became frugal as well as indus- 
trious, and lamented the excesses of his early years ; yet his boldness and 
courage were retained. 

" When the war began, he was early appointed to command a troop of 
horse in Virginia ; and with this company he marched to the American 
army at Cambridge, in the summer of 1775. Gen. Washington, who knew 
him well, had great confidence in his bravery and patriotism ; and he de- 
tached him to join the expedition against Canada, the following autumn. 
No officer was more distinguished than Morgan on that memorable occasion ; 
and when Arnold was wounded in the first assault, the command fell on him. 
Soon afterward, when Gen. Montgomery was slain, Morgan, with others, 
was taken prisoner. While in the hands of the British, he was offered the 
rank and pay of a colonel in that service, which he indignantly rejected. 
The following year Morgan was exchanged, and immediately joined the 
American army. Washington gave him command of a rifle corps, with 
which he was detached to the assistance of Gates, then opposing the British 
army in its advance from Canada. He bore a distinguished part in the bat- 
tles which preceded the surrender of Burgoyne, near Saratoga, in October, 
1777. When he joined the main army after that glorious event, he was 
employed by the commander-in-chief in several perilous enterprises, which 
he conducted with equal courage and judgment. In 1780, he found his 
health declining, and retired from the army, — but was again induced to join 
the army in the south, where the British were making depredations on the 
inhabitants. He now received a commission as a brigadier-general, and 
followed Gates into South Carolina. But Gates was obliged to retire with- 
out accomplishing any thing, for the British were far the most numerous. 



396 MORRIS COUNTY. 

Yet this did not discourage Morgan. He commanded in the attack on Col. 
Tarleton at the Cowpens, who was defeated ; and Morgan, Col. Howard, 
Col. Washington, and Gen. Pickens, were honorably noticed by Congress 
for their brave conduct on that occasion. When Gen. Greene was after- 
ward appointed to the command of the southern army, Morgan continued 
some time with him. The army was obliged to retreat, for want of men 
and provisions ; and, it was said, Greene and Morgan did not agree as to 
the route best to be taken ; and soon after, he<retired from the army, — some 
said, in disgust, but others, with more probability of truth, (for on a former 
occasion he had yielded to Gen. Greene's opinion, and the latter had nothing 
arbitrary in his deportment,) that his state of health made it necessary for 
him to return to his family. Gen. Morgan served one term in congress, 
from Frederick co. ; and he appeared in the field once more, having com- 
mand of the Virginia militia, against the whiskey insurrection in Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1794. He died in 1799, the same year in which the death of 
Washington occurred." 



The oldest graveyard at Morristown is in the rear of the 1st 
Presbyterian church. The following inscriptions are from monu- 
ments in this yard : 

This monument is erected to the memory of Silas Condict, Esq., who was born 
March 7th, 1738, and departed this life Sept. 16, 1801, in the 64th year of his age. 
Thy fatal stroke, O Death ! who can evade, 
Or 'scape the terrors of thy dreadful shade ? 
The friend, the saint, the patriot, and the sage 
Are turn'd to dust by thy relentless rage. 

This tomb is dedicated to the memory of our beloved brother, Richard Brinckerhoff 
Faesch. He was second son of John Jacob and Elizabeth Faesch. Was born 19th 
of July, 1778, and departed this life 25th of October, 1820. Man goeth to his long 
home, and the mourners go about the streets : or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden 
bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cis- 
tern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was ; and the spirit shall return 
unto God who gave it. 

t 
I. H. S. 

Ici reposent les restes d'Elizabeth Madelaine Siette de la Rousseliere, epouse de Louis 
Paubel; nee a St. Benoit, Isle de Bourbon, le 6me Aoilt, 1763, et decedee a Bottle Hill, 
Nouveau Jersey, le 12me Mars, 1818. Sa grande picte et sa resignation a la volonte de 
Dieu font la consolation de son mari et de ses enfants, qui ne cesseront de la pleurer. 

[Here repose the remains of d'Elizabeth Madelaine, wife of Louis Paubel ; born at St. 
Benoit, Isle of Bourbon, the 6th of August, 1763, and died at Bottle Hill, New Jersey, 
March 12th, 1818. Her exemplary piety and resignation to the will of God, was the 
consolation of her husband and her children, who cease not to weep for her.] 

The three following inscriptions are copied from those in Alden's 
Collection of Epitaphs : 

Sacred to the memory of Colonel Jacob Ford, jun., son of Colonel Jacob Ford, sen. 
He was born 19 February, anno Domini 1738, and departed this life 10 January, A. D. 
1777, and being then in the service of his country, was interred in this place with mili- 
tary honors. 

In vain we strive by human skill The friends who read our tombs and mourn, 
To avoid the shafts of death. And weep our early fall, 

Heaven's high decree all must fulfil, Must be lamented in their turn, 
And we resign our breath. And share the fate of all. 



MORRIS COUNTY. 397 

In memory of Colonel Chilion Ford, who departed this life on the 19 of October, 1800, 
aged 42 years, 9 months, and 23 days. He early showed his attachment to his country 
by entering into her service at the commencement of her struggle with Great Britain, 
and continued during the war an able and active officer in the artillery. He was a warm 
friend, a tender husband, a kind father, and an honest man. 

In memory of the Reverend Doctor Timothy Johnes, who was born on the 24 day of 
May, A. D. 1717, and died on the 15th day of September, A. D. 1794, in the 78 year of 
his age and 54 of his ministry. 

As a Christian, few ever discovered more piety ; as a minister, few labored longer, 
more zealously, or more successfully, than did this minister of Jesus Christ. 



PEQUANNOCK. 

This township is named from the Pequannock tribe of Indians. 
It is the largest in the county, being 16 miles long, 11 wide, and 
containing an area of 74,000 acres. It is bounded N. by West Mil- 
ford and Pompton, Passaic county; E..by Manchester, Passaic co., 
and Caldwell, Essex co. ; S. by Randolph and Hanover, and W. by 
Jefferson. The surface is much broken up by hills, and agriculture 
is but little attended to, excepting, in the eastern part, where there 
is an extremely fertile strip, known as the Pompton Plains, in the 
valley of Pompton river, which at some remote period was pro- 
bably the bed of a lake. The plains are about 6 miles long, con- 
tain an academy and a Reformed Dutch church, and are inhabited 
by thriving, industrious agriculturists. The wealth of the town- 
ship consists in the immense beds of iron found in the hills. In 
1840 there were within its limits 2 forges, and there was produced 
1,375 tons of cast iron, 3,283 of bar iron ; there were employed in 
the business 241 men, and a capital invested of $237,000. There 
are in Pequannock 22 schools, 873 scholars. Population 5,190. 

Copperas was formerly made at the Copperas Works, at the Cop- 
peras mountain, in the NE. part of the township. The Green 
pond, on the summit of this mountain, is a favorite resort, abound- 
ing in fish, and surrounded by wild, romantic scenery. At Mt. Hope 
iron works, shot and shell were made for the American army in the 
war of the revolution. 

The village of Pompton contains a Reformed Dutch church and 
a few dwellings. Montville lies in a deep valley, through which 
passes the Morris canal by 2 inclined planes. It contains a Re- 
formed Dutch church and a few dwellings. 

Rockaway, 9 miles N. of Morristown, is situated on undulating 
ground on both sides of Rockaway river, here the boundary line 
between Pequannock and Hanover, and also on the line of the 
Morris canal. It derives its name from the Rockawack tribe, who, 
when the country was first settled, dwelt in the vicinity. Before the 
war of the revolution there was here a Presbyterian church, a forge, 
a grist and saw mill. In the war, a part of Sullivan's army, on their 
expedition against the New York Indians, passed through this place. 
The soldiers encamped in an orchard belonging to James Jackson, 
on the E. side of the river, while the officers were billeted in the 



398 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



four or live dwellings then constituting the settlement. From that 
period the village has grown to its present thriving condition, the 
greatest element of its prosperity being the extensive iron mines 
situated N. and W. of it. Since the Morris canal was constructed 
it has doubled in population. A post-office was established in 1791. 
In 1794 Joseph Jackson. Esq.. was appointed postmaster under 
Washington, and continued in office nearly half a century, until 
1842. Rockaway contains 2 churches, 4 stores, 1 grist. 1 saw, and 
2 rolling mills, 1 steel furnace, 1 iron foundry, 1 machine shop, 2 
forges, 3 blacksmiths, 2 cabinet and 2 carriage makers, and about 
400 inhabitants. 




View of the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches, Rockaway. 

The foregoing is a view of the churches in Rockaway, situated 
a few rods east of the centre of the village, on the line of the Morris 
canal. That on the left is the Methodist church, a neat edifice of 
wood, erected in 1834 ; the other, the Presbyterian, a handsome 
brick structure, built in 1832. From an interesting discourse de- 
livered at the dedication of this church, Sept. 6th, 1832, by the 
pastor, the Rev. Barnabas King, the following facts, respecting the 
history of this society, were obtained. The first church built in the 
village was raised in 1752. although not completely finished until 
1794. The first settled pastor was the Rev. James Tuttle, installed 
in 1768 over this church and the one at Parcipany. He died 
April. 1771. In April, 1784. Rev. Mr. Baldwin was installed over 
this congregation, and continued pastor eight years. " He was a 
worthy man, faithfully served the cause of his Lord and Master, 
but his eiforts were weakened by unhappy differences of his peo- 
ple in regard to singingr." From u the Brief History of the church 
at Rockaway," the following extracts show the common though 
singular feature, of a want of harmony in those whose peculiar 
duty it is to produce it. "That part of divine service pertaining 
to the singing of psalms, and what version of psalms should be 



MORRIS COUNTY. 399 

tised in worship, having made great uneasiness and inquietude, in 
April, 1786, it was voted to appoint four choristers to set the tunes : 
1 that Benj. Jackson, Francis McCarty. and Jacob Lyon be appoint- 
ed choristers, that they sing in the afternoon without reading the 
psalm line by line, and David Beeman to sing the forepart of the 
day, unless otherwise agreed on by Mr. Beeman and the other 
choristers ; and that they sin? any tunes that are sung in the neigh- 
boring churches, as they shall judge proper April, 1789, some 

further difficulty having arisen respecting the singing in church, it 
was voted at a parish meeting to have the psalm read line by line. 
or by two lines, in singing in future, except on particular occasions." 
At a parish meeting, May 14, 1792. " The mode of singing was 
again adjusted by the appointment of Benjamin Jackson. Russel 
Davis, and Daniel Hurd as choristers, and that they act discretion- 
ary when to sing without reading the lines." In January. 1793, the. 
Rev. Mr. Carle was installed and ordained pastor over the church, 
and continued until his dismission in 1S01. Rev. Barnabas King 
was installed and ordained pastor Sept. 25, 180S ; though he had 
previously, for a short time, supplied the pulpit. 



RANDOLPH. 

Randolph was formed from Mendham in 1805. It is 7 miles 
long by 5 wide, and is bounded N. by Pequannock, E. by Hanover 
and Morris, S. by Mendham and Chester, and YV. by Roxbury. 
The surface of the township is generally mountainous, Trowbridge 
mountain crossing it on the SE., and Schooley's mountain on the 
north. This is a manufacturing township, and in 1S40 there were 
produced 900 tons of bar iron, and 100 of cast iron ; 35 men were 
employed in mining, and a capital invested of §100,000. It has 7 
schools, 267 scholars. Pop. 1,792. 

The village of Dover is 8 miles NW. of Morristown. in a beau- 
tiful valley enclosed by mountains of a romantic character, near 
the jN". boundary of the township, and on the Rockaway river and 
line of the Morris canal. The annexed view was taken near the 
powder-house, about a quarter of a mile from the village centre. 
The large building on the right, near the spectator, is the Method- 
ist church, erected in 183S ; and that in the distance with a tower, 
the Presbyterian church, built in 1842. There is an academy, 
erected in 1829. in which formerly public worship was held. Do- 
ver has been a locality for the manufacture of iron for nearly a 
century. In 1792 it contained but 4 dwellings and a forge. During 
this year a rolling-mill was erected by Israel Canfield and Jacob 
Losey. In 1810, it contained 10 or 15 dwellings. In 1826. the 
village was incorporated, and about that time laid out into build- 
ing-lots, since which it has rapidly progressed. There are 3 houses 
now standing that were here in 1792. viz. : the Beman, Augur, 
and Doty dwellings. The first tavern was commenced in 1S0^. in 
the building known as " the old tavern-house," when the Augur 



400 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



dwelling was enlarged for that purpose. In 1820, the post-office 
was established. The Rockaway river here furnishes abundance 
of water-power; the fall in the two dams being i7| feet, and by 
the construction of a canal three quarters of a mile long, is capable 




^/ 







Northern view of Dover. 

of much further increase. Dover has 2 rolling-mills, 1 chest for 
converting steel, 1 foundry and turning-lathes, machinery for the 
manufacture of spikes, rivets, nails, &c, 1 forging-shop with trip- 
hammers, 1 circular saw, 4 blacksmiths, 3 wheelwrights, 2 canal- 
boat yards, 1 saddler, 1 watchmaker, 1 cabinetmaker, 3 shoema- 
kers, 1 tailor, 4 stores, 3 groceries, an academy, 2 churches, and 
about 400 inhabitants. When in full operation the iron- works em- 
ploy about 50 men. 

Hon. Mahlon Dickerson,late Secretary of the Navy, resides on a 
beautiful situation about 3 miles SW. of Dover. Adjacent is the 
celebrated Suckasunny iron mine, remarkable for its excellent ore. 
The deposits appear inexhaustible ; it is highly magnetic, yielding 
by chemical process 82 parts in 100 of iron. Shafts have been 
sunk to the depth of 70, and drifts driven over 120 feet. The first 
ore obtained in the county was taken from this mine, from 
whence it was carried to Morristown, Hanover, and Essex co.. in 
leathern bags on the backs of horses, to be manufactured. The 
land in the vicinity was first taken up in 1717 by Joseph Kirkbride ; 
previously the ore was free to all. For the last 30 years it has 
been owned and skilfully wrought by the Hon. Mahlon Dickerson. 
In the adjoining fields, Indian axes, arrows, and other relics, are 
found, made from the ore. 



ROXBURY. 

Roxbury is 10 miles long, with a variable breadth of from 3 to 
10 miles. It is bounded NE. by Jefferson, E. by Randolph, S. by 



MORRIS COUNTY. 401 

Chester and Washington, W. by Independence, Warren co., and 
NW. by Byram, Sussex co. There are in the township 9 stores, 
1 forge, 2 fulling and 2 grist mills, 1 woollen factory, 1 tannery, 1 
pottery ; cap. in manufac. $8,300 ; 14 schools, 587 scholars. Pop. 
2,230. 

Nearly the whole of its surface is covered by Schooley's moun- 
tain, excepting on the east, where the Suckasunny Plains occupy 
a tract two or three miles wide, and several miles long. On the 
summit of the mountain is Budd's pond, a small, but clear and 
beautiful sheet of water, a favorite resort for visitors at the springs, 
and for the baptismal rites of a Baptist church in the vicinity. 
The Morris canal passes through the township, and here finds its 
summit level at an elevation of 900 feet above the level of the sea. 
It is supplied by a feeder from an outlet of the Hopatcong lake. 
The project of the canal was originally conceived by Geo. P. 
M'Culloch, Esq., of Morristown, while on a fishing excursion to 
this lake, and through his exertions this stupendous enterprise, so 
beneficial as an outlet to the manufactures of the country, but 
ruinous to the stockholders, was commenced and carried through. 
The natural obstacles were overcome by the adoption of a series 
of locks and inclined planes of great lifts, adapted to boats of great 
magnitude. The surveys were commenced in 1822, and the canal 
completed in 1836. 

On Lake Hopatcong there is a regular causeway of stone, run- 
ning from an island nearly across to the shore, a distance of about 
a quarter of a mile. It was no doubt made by the Indians, and 
was a work of great labor, the lake being very deep. The water 
is now a little above it, occasioned by the raising of the lake for 
the Morris canal. On the opposite shore are found great numbers 
of Indian arrows of beautiful shape, axes, and broken jars ; and ap- 
pearances indicate it was the site of an Indian village. Drakesville, 
on the Morris canal, Drakestown, on the S. boundary, and Flan- 
ders in the southern part, are small villages, the latter containing 
20 or 80 dwellings. Stanhope, on the line of the Morris canal, 
and partly in Byram, Sussex co., 12 miles S. of Newton, and 16, 
NW. of Morristown, is a village containing 50 or 60 dwellings, 
and the manufacture of iron has been extensively carried on there. 
Suckasunny, 10 miles NW. of Morristown, is a small village in 
the E. part of the township, situated on the plains of the same 
name. After the surrender of Burgoyne, his park of artillery was 
deposited for safe-keeping in the Presbyterian church at this place. 
Some soldiers were also quartered there. 

There were a few families of Rogerines, who located themselves 
in secluded spots on Schooley's mountain at the first settlement of 
the county, in the neighborhood of the springs, and also between 
Suckasunny plains and Hopatcong lake. This fanatical sect had 
their origin in Connecticut, some time previous to the revolution- 
ary war. Tradition states that some SO years ago, a company of 
them, men and women, came one Sabbath to the Presbyterian 

51 



402 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



church in Mendham, where they disturbed the congregation by 
their conversation, and the females by knitting, consequently they 
were thrust out of the church. The sect became extinct during 
the war of the revolution.* 



JEFFERSON. 

Jefferson was formed from Pequannock and Roxbury, in 1804. 
It is 12 miles long, 4 broad ; and is bounded XE. by West Milford, 
(Passaic co.,) SE. by Pequannock, SW. by Roxbury, and NW. 
by Hardiston, (Sussex co.) The surface is covered by mountains, 
excepting a long, deep, and narrow valley, in the east part, running 
the whole length of the township, through which courses the main 
branch of the Rockaway river. The scenery of the mountains 
enclosing the valley is bold and wild. There are not any villages 
in the township, but a small settlement at Berkshire valley, con- 
taining a Presbyterian church, and a few dwellings. There were 
in the township, in 1840, 11 iron- works, (587 tons of bar-iron pro- 
duced, and a capital invested of §40.150 ;) 5 schools, 175 scholars. 
Pop. 1,412. Agriculture is comparatively little attended to, the 
chief wealth consisting in iron and wood. 



WASHINGTON. 

This township is bounded N. by Roxbury, E. by Roxbury and 
Chester, S. by Lebanon and Tewksbury, (Hunterdon co.,) and W. 
by Mansfield and Independence, (Warren co.) There are in the 
township 17 stores, 1 lumber-yard, 1 forge, 1 tannery, 4 flouring, 6 
grist, 8 saw, 4 oil m. ; cap. in manufac. $127,900; 15 schools, 753 
scholars. Pop. 2,451. 

The greater portion of the township is covered by Schooley's 
mountain,! which rises to an elevation of 1,100 feet above the level 
of the sea, and 600 above the adjacent country. The south branch 
of the Raritan flows through the east part of the township. The 
land is there very rich, and was early settled upon by Germans. 
German Valley, Springtown, and Pleasant Grove, are small locali- 
ties in this township. The last contains a Presbyterian church, and 
a few dwellings ; the first a Presbyterian and a Lutheran church, 
and 12 or 15 dwellings. In the place stands a church, built in 1775, 
by Lutherans and Presbyterians. It has a singular, antiquated ap- 
pearance, is constructed of stone, and stands in a graveyard con- 
taining tombstones, on some of which are inscriptions in German. 

Hier ruhet in Gott der alle entschlafene Christoph Kern. Er ist geboren den 16ten 
December, 1728, und ist gestorben den 22ten Julius, 1796. Er brachte sein alter auf 

* For an account of the origin of this sect, the reader is referred to the His. Collec- 
tions of Connecticut, by the senior compiler of this volume. 

t" Schooley's mountain, sometimes called Schugl's hills, derives its name from a family 
once proprietors of the soil thereabouts. The latter name is probably a corruption or 
abbreviation of the former." 



MORRIS COUNTY. 



403 



(57 Jahr, 7 monat, und G tage. Leichen text, Psalm lxxxiv., verse 11 : " Denn ein tag in 
deinen vorhofen ist besser, denn sonst tausend. Ich will lieber der thiire hiiten hi meines 
Gottes hause, denn lange wohnen in der Gott-losen hiitten." 

[Here rest in God the mortal remains of Christopher Kern, who was born December 
16, 1728, and died July 22, 1796, aged 67 years, 7 montbs, and 6 days. His funeral ser- 
mon was preached from the text of Psalm lxxxiv. 10 : " For a day in thy courts is better 
than a thousand : I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in 
the tents of wickedness."] 




Schooley's Mountain Spring House. 

The celebrated spring on Schooley's mountain is on the western 
declivity of the eminence, in a deep defile, between two beautifully- 
wooded mountains, about 50 miles from New York, 22 from Som- 
erville, and 20 from Morristown. This chalybeate was originally 
known to the Indians, and used by them for rheumatic complaints 
and cutaneous eruptions. It has been a place of fashionable resort 
for about forty years. Previously, visitors erected tents and shan- 
ties, for temporary accommodation. Now there are two splendid 
hotels, pleasantly embowered by trees, usually thronged in the 
summer months with strangers, drawn thither by various attrac- 
tions, not the least of which is the fine bracing mountain air, and 
the delightful landscape scenery in the vicinity. The spring is a 
small rill, not larger in diameter than one's little finger, issuing 
from a rock by the roadside, covered by a small, neat, wooden 
structure, with a single apartment, and seats for visitors. The 
water is pleasant and cooling to the taste : while drinking, one 
scarcely perceives the difference from common water, the mineral 
taste being but slightly perceptible. 

The learned Dr. Mitchill says it contains a small quantity of 
carbonated oxyde of iron, a little more of the muriate of lime, 
more than three times the amount of either of the carbonate of 
lime, with very small quantities of extractive matter, muriate 
of soda, muriate of magnesia, sulphate of lime, and silex. All 
the carbonic acid it contains is combined, and not free. On the 
combination of iron with this water, a few particulars may be 
mentioned. The water, which issues at the rate of about one gal- 
Ion in two minutes and a half, is at first transparent, but soon be- 



404 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

comes turbid on exposure to the air, and gradually deposits a fine 
ochre. Notwithstanding its ferruginous impregnation, the metal is 
so precipitated and modified by boiling, that the infusion of tea- 
leaves is not blackened or discolored at all ; but is as good as that 
made with pure spring-water. When the hostess at the inn told 
me this, I was so incredulous that I offered to bet her a bonnet and 
a shawl that it would not turn out so. She declined the wager, 
but said she would make the experiment. Water from the spring 
was boiled, and employed for making an infusion of Chinese tea. 
There was no discoloration whatever : whence 1 found that, if she 
had had the courage to lay, I should have lost the stake. In like 
manner, when one of my friends requested me, a few years ago, 
to make some experiments on a bottle of water he had brought 
from the spring, I told him I would do so, and authorized him to 
oring as many persons as he pleased to witness the proceedings. 
The company assembled, and the tests for iron gave not the least 
indications of its presence. We were all puzzled and disappointed. 
Its virtues are more particularly extolled in cases of calculous con- 
cretion, and obstruction of the urinary passages. Though, in ad- 
dition to its nephritic operation, it may be considered as a tonic to 
the stomach, and gently strengthening the digestive organs, like 
other chalybeates. So that, in connection with a change of air, 
exercise, diet, and way of life, it may be productive of excellent 
effects, in the cases of patients from the seacoast and crowded 
cities. 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 

Passaic county was formed from the northern part of Essex, and 
western part of Bergen cos., Feb. 7th, 1837. Its extreme length is 
30 m., and its breadth varies from 2 to 10 m. It is bounded N. by 
Bergen co. and part of Orange co., N. Y., E. by Bergen and Hud- 
son cos., S. by Essex and Morris cos., and W. by Sussex co. The 
surface is generally hilly, with broad and fertile valleys, excepting 
in the extreme southeastern part, where it is level. The county is 
watered by the Passaic, Pequannock, Kingwood, Pompton, and 
Ramapo rivers. The Paterson and Hudson railroad, 10^ miles in 
length, commences at Jersey city, enters the county on the south- 
east, and terminates at Paterson. It will eventually be extended 
into the state of New York, and connect with the New York and 
Erie railroad. The Morris canal, also, passes through the south- 
ern part of the county. In the northern part are large deposits of 
valuable iron ore, extensively used in the numerous forges of that 
region. There is an excellent quarry of red sandstone at the vil- 
lage of Little Falls. This county, although respectable in point of 
agriculture, derives its chief importance from its extensive manu- 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 



405 



factories, principally located at Paterson. The county is divided 
into the five following townships : — 

Acquackanonck, Manchester, Paterson, 

Pompton, West Milford. 

The population of Passaic co., in 1840, was 16,721. 



ACQUACKANONCK. 

Acquackanonck is about 7 m. long, with an average breadth of 
3^ m. It is bounded N. by Paterson and Saddle river ; E. by Lodi, 




Eastern View of Acquackanonck. 

Bergen co., and Harrison, Hudson co. ; S. by Belleville, Bloomfield, 
and Caldwell, Essex co., and W. by Manchester. The Paterson 
and Hudson railroad, and Morris canal pass through the township. 
The soil is generally fertile, and the surface mountainous and hilly 
on the west, elsewhere level. There are 8 stores, 1 cotton fac, 2 
tanneries, 1 grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $73,600 ; 1 acad- 
emy, 3 schools, 130 scholars. Pop. 2,483. 

The foundation of Acquackanonck w r as in March, 1679, when 
" Captahem, an Indian sachem, granted a deed for Haqucquenunch, 
(afterward spelt ' Aqueyquinunke,') to Hans Diderick, Gerrit, Ger- 
ritson, Walling Jacobs, Hendrick George, and company, of Bergen ; 
and another deed from the governor and council, for the same tract, 
with some small variation in bounds, is dated March 16th, 1684." 

The village of Acquackanonck is situated on the »vest bank of 
the Passaic river, and on the line of the Paterson and Hudson rail- 
road, 5 m. SE. from Paterson, 9 m. NE. from Newark, and 11m. 
from New York. The Passaic river is navigable for sloops to this 
village, 15 m. from its mouth; beyond here, the river atfords in- 
numerable mill-sites in its meanderings to its source. A number 
of factories and mills are situated upon it, in its course through the 
township. The above view was taken on the east bank of the Pas- 
saic, just above the bridge, and shows the most dense part of the 



406 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

village, together with the Reformed Dutch church, and the acad- 
emy. In the west part of the place is another church, built of 
brick, and ornamented with a cupola, and a tablet upon its front 
bears the inscription, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. — 1 Sam. 
vii. 12. The True Reformed Dutch church of Achquakanonk, 
erected A. D. 1825." There are also in the village 2 stores, and 
about 50 dwellings. A number of sloops are owned here, which 
trade with New York and other places. Blachley's mineral spring 
is about 1| m. west of the village, and Weasel is the name of a 
settlement extending several miles along the Passaic, in the north 
part of the township. An officer of the revolutionary army, who 
passed through Acquackanonck and Paramus in 1778, thus gives 
his impressions. 

" These towns are chiefly inhabited by Dutch people ; their 
churches and dwelling-houses are built of rough stone, one story 
high. There is a peculiar neatness in the appearance of their 
dwellings, having an airy piazza, supported by pillars in front, and 
their kitchens connected at the ends in the form of wings. The 
land is remarkably level, and the soil fertile ; and being generally 
advantageously cultivated, the people appear to enjoy ease and 
happy competency. The furniture in their houses is of the most 
ordinary kind, and such as might be supposed to accord with the 
fashion of the days of Queen Anne. They despise the superfluities 
of life, and are ambitious to appear always neat and cleanly, and 
never to complain of an empty purse." 

The village of Little Falls is on the Passaic river, 4 m. S W. of 
Paterson. It derives its name from the rapids in the river, which 
here descend 51 feet in half a mile, and may be used for turning 
machinery to a great extent. The Morris canal crosses the river 
by a beautiful stone aqueduct, of 80 feet span, and a height of 50 
feet. The village contains 4 stores, several manufacturing estab- 
lishments and mills, 1 Reformed Dutch and 1 Methodist church, 
and about 60 dwellings. There is here an excellent quarry of red 
sandstone, which was used in the construction of Trinity church, 
New York. From it has been carved some beautiful statuary, by 
Mr. Thorn, the sculptor, a former resident of the village. 



MANCHESTER. 

Manchester was formerly part of Saddle River, Bergen county, 
and was taken from that township at the time of the formation of 
Passaic county. Its extreme length is 9, and extreme width 8 miles. 
It is bounded N. by Franklin, Bergen co. ; easterly by Saddle River, 
Bergen co., and Paterson and Acquackanonck ; S. by Caldwell, Es- 
sex co. ; and westerly by Pequannock, Morris co., and Pompton. 
Pop. 3,110. It is generally hilly and mountainous, and well water- 
ed, being coursed on the west by the Ramapo and Pompton rivers, 
and on the south and east by the Passaic. 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 



407 



The village of Manchester, formerly called Totowa, is situated on 
the Passaic, in a romantic and picturesque region of country imme- 
diately opposite Paterson, with which it is connected by two bridges, 
and in a general description should be included as a part of that 




South View of Manchester. 

town. It contains several manufacturing establishments, a Reform- 
ed Dutch church, a church for colored persons, and about 1,600 in- 
habitants. The above view was taken on the summit of the quar- 
ry, a short distance south of the village. 

Mead's Basin is a small settlement and depot on the Morris ca- 
nal, in the SW. part of Manchester, where there are about a dozen 
dwellings. Goffle is a hamlet in the NE. part of the township. 

A short distance from the village of Manchester are the Paterson 
Falls, anciently called Totowa Falls; a gentleman with the revo- 
lutionary army, after describing the falls, thus describes another 
natural curiosity then existing in this vicinity: 

In the afternoon we were invited to visit another curiosity in the neighborhood. This 
is a monster in a human form. He is twenty-seven years of age, his face, from the up- 
per part of his forehead to the end of his chin, measures twenty-seven inches, and round 
the upper part of his head is twenty-one inches ; his eyes and nose are remarkably large 
and prominent, chin long and pointed. His features are coarse, irregular, and disgust- 
ing, and his voice is rough and sonorous. His body is only twenty-seven inches in 
length, his limbs are small and much deformed, and he has the use of one hand only. 
He has never been able to stand or sit up, as he cannot support the enormous weight of 
his head ; but he is constantly in a large cradle, with his head supported on large pil- 
lows. He is visited by great numbers of people, and is peculiarly fond of the company 
of clergymen, always inquiring for them among his visitors, and taking great pleasure in 
receiving religious instruction. General Washington made him a visit, and asked 
" whether he was a whig or tory ?" He replied, that he had never taken an active part on 
either side. 



PATERSON, 

Paterson was formed from Acquackanonck in 1831. Its popula- 
tion in 1840 was 7,598. The village of Paterson, the seat of jus- 



408 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

tice for Passaic county, is on the Passaic river, 13 miles N. of New- 
ark, and 17 from New York. The town plot lies partly on both 
sides of the river, and covers 36 square miles. It is »ir>M;iiu:«i i>v a 
mayor, recorder, common council, &c. This flourishing manu- 
facturing town was established by a society incorporated in 1791, 
with a capital of $1,000,000, which owed its origin to the exertions 
of Alexander Hamilton. 

The general object of the company was to lay the foundation of 
a great emporium of manufactures. The prominent purpose of the 
society was the manufacture of cotton cloths. At this period the 
great improvements introduced in the cotton manufacture by Ark- 
wright were but little known even in Europe, and in this country 
scarcely any cotton had been spun by machinery.* 

The act of incorporation gave a city charter with jurisdiction 
over a tract of six square miles. The society was organized at 
New Brunswick in Nov. 1791, and the following gentlemen ap- 
pointed as its board of directors, viz : William Duer, John Dew- 
hurst, Benjamin Walker, Nicholas Low, Royal Flint, Elisha Boudi- 
not, John Bayard, John Neilson, Archibald Mercer, Thomas Low- 
ring, George Lewis, More Furman, and Alexander M'Comb. Wil- 
liam Duer was appointed the principal officer. Having been duly 
organized, the society, in May, 1792, decided upon the great falls of 
the Passaic as the site of their proposed operations, and named it 
Paterson, in honor of Gov. William Paterson, who had signed their 
charter. There were then not over ten houses here. 

" At a meeting of the directors, at the Godwin hotel, on the 4th July, 
1792, appropriations were made for building factories, machine shops, and 
shops for calico printing and weaving ; and a race-way was directed to be 
made, for bringing the water from above the falls to the proposed mills. 
Unfortunately, the direction of these works was given to Major L'Enfan, a 
French engineer, not more celebrated for the grandeur of his conceptions, 
than his recklessness of expense ; and whose magnificent projects commonly 
perished in the waste of means provided for their attainment. He imme- 
diately commenced the race-way and canal, designing to unite the Upper 
Passaic with the Lower, at the head of tide, near the present village of 
Acquackanonck, by a plan better adapted to the resources of a great empire 
than to those of a private company. 

" In January, 1793, Peter Colt, Esq., of Hartford, then comptroller of the 
state of Connecticut, was appointed 'general superintendent of the affairs 
of the company, with full powers to manage the concerns of the society, as 
if they were his own individual property,' Major L'Enfan being retained, 
however, as engineer; but he, after having spent, uselessly, a large sum of 
money, resigned his office in the following September. Mr. Colt, thus in 

* The first cotton spun by machinery in America was at Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 
Dec, 1790, by Samuel Slater, an English emigrant, who may be properly styled " the 
parent of the American cotton manufacture." As an evidence of the vast improvements 
in the manufacture and culture of cotton, it is stated that at this period good cotton cloth 
vrasffty cents per yard. For a more full history of this subject, the reader is referred to 
the memoirs of Arkwright, Hargrcavcs, Cartwright, Slater, and Whitney, in the Memoirs 
of Eminent Mechanics, by the junior compiler of this work. 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 409 

sole charge of the works, completed the race-way, conducting the water to 
the first factory erected by the society. The canal to tide-water had been 
abandoned before the departure of the engineer. 

"The factory, 90 feet long by 40 wide, and 4 stories high, was finished in 
1794, when cotton yarn was spun in the mill ; but yarn had been spun in 
the preceding year, by machinery moved by oxen. In 1794 also, calico 
shawls and other cotton goods were printed ; the bleached and unbleached 
muslins being purchased in New York. In the same year the society gave 
their attention to the culture of the silkworm, and directed the superintend- 
ent to plant the mulberry-tree for this purpose. In April of this year, also, 
the society, at the instance of Mr. Colt, employed a teacher to instruct, gra- 
tuitously, on the Sabbath, the children employed in the factory, and others. 
This was probably the first Sunday-school established in New Jersey. 

" Notwithstanding their untoward commencement, and the many discour- 
agements attending their progress, the directors persevered in their enter- 
prise ; and during the years 1795 and 1796, much yarn of various sizes 
was spun, and several species of cotton fabrics were made. But, at length 
satisfied that it was hopeless to contend, successfully, longer with an ad- 
verse current, they resolved, July, 1796, to abandon the manufacture, and 
discharged their workmen. This result was produced by a combination of 
causes. Nearly $50,000 had been lost by the failure of the parties to cer- 
tain bills of exchange purchased by the company, to buy in England plain 
cloths for printing; large sums had been wasted by the engineer; and the 
machinists and manufacturers imported, were presumptuous and ignorant of 
many branches of the business they engaged to conduct; and, more than all, 
the whole attempt was premature. No pioneer had led the way, and no 
experience existed in the country, relative to any subject of the enterprise. 
Besides, had the country been in a measure prepared for manufactures, the 
acquisition of the carrying-trade, which our merchants were then making, 
was turning public enterprise into other channels. The ruin of the com- 
pany, under these circumstances, cannot now be cause of astonishment. 
But to this catastrophe the children of Mr. Colt, now deeply interested in 
the operations of the company, have the just and proud satisfaction to know, 
that their parent was in no way auxiliary. On closing their concerns, the 
directors unanimously returned him their thanks ' for his industry, care, and 
prudence in the management of their affairs, since he had been employed in 
their service ; fully sensible that the failure of the objects of the society was 
from causes not in his power, or that of any other man, to prevent. 

" The cotton-mill of the company was subsequently leased to individuals, 
who continued to spin candle-wick and coarse yarn until 1807, when it was 
accidentally burned down, and was never rebuilt. The admirable water- 
power of the company was not, however, wholly unemployed. In 1801, a 
mill-seat was leased to Mr. Charles Kinsey and Israel Crane ; in 1807, a 
second, and in 1811, a third to other persons ; and between 1812 and 1814, 
several others were sold or leased. In 1814, Mr. Roswell L. Colt, the pre- 
sent enterprising governor of the society, purchased, at a depreciated price, 
a large proportion of the shares, and reanimated the association. From this 
period the growth of Paterson has been steady, except during the 3 or 4 
years which followed the peace of 1815. 

" The advantages derivable from the great fall in the river here, have 
been improved with much judgment. A dam of 4i feet high, strongly 
framed and bolted to the rock in the bed of the river above the falls, turns 

52 



410 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

the stream through a canal excavated in the trap-rock of the bank, into a 
basin ; whence, through strong guard-gates, it supplies in succession three 
canals on separate planes, each below the other ; giving to the mills oh 
each a head and fall of about 22 feet. By means of the guard-gate, the 
volume of water is regulated at pleasure, and a uniform height preserved ; 
avoiding the inconvenience of back-water. The expense of maintaining the 
dam, canals, and main sluice-gates, and of regulating the water, is borne 
by the company ; who have expended, in raising the main embankment, and 
constructing the feeder from the river and new upper canal, and for works 
to supply water to the third tier of mills, the sum of $40,000. 

" The advantages which Paterson possesses for a manufacturing town are 
obvious. An abundant and steady supply of water ; a healthy, pleasant, 
and fruitful country, supplying its markets fully with excellent meats and 
vegetables ; its proximity to New York, where it obtains the raw material, 
and sale for manufactured goods ; and with which it is connected by the 
sloop navigation of the Passaic, by the Morris canal, by a turnpike-road, 
and by a rail-road — render it one of the most desirable sites in the Union."* 

The first church incorporated in Paterson was the 1st Presbyte- 
rian church, in 1814. There was at that time a Reformed Dutch 
church at Totowa, now Manchester ; and the services at that place 
were in the Dutch language. The united population of the two 
places was then about 1,500. 

From a mere village Paterson has now got to be the second 
town in importance in the state. There are in Paterson 14 
churches, viz : 2 Reformed Dutch, 2 Methodist, 2 Presbyterian, 1 
Free Independent, 1 Episcopalian, 1 True Reformed Dutch, 2 Bap- 
tist, 1 Primitive Methodist, 1 Catholic, 1 »:nmM*u ninnoinw. There 
is a philosophical society of young men, who have a respectable 
library, and a mechanics' society for the advancement of science 
and the mechanic arts, with a library and philosophical apparatus. 
The Morris canal passes near the town. The Paterson and Hud- 
son railroad gives it an easy access to the city of New York. This 
road will ere long be extended northward and united with the Erie 
railroad. 

There were by the census of 1840, 104 stores ; machinery manu- 
factured, value 8007,000 ; 4 fulling-m. ; 1 woollen fac. ; 19 cotton 
fac, 45,050 spindles, with 2 dyeing and printing establishments, 
cap. $920,000 ; 1 tannery ; 2 paper fac. ; 1 saw-m. ; 2 printing 
offices ; 2 weekly newspapers. Total capital in manufactures, 
$1,792,500. 1 acad. 80 students; 10 schools, 1,006 scholars. Pop. 
including Manchester, about 9,000. 

Paterson is celebrated as affording one of the most romantic 
waterfalls in the country, and the neighboring scenery is of a highly 
picturesque character. A late traveller thus describes this wonder 
of nature : 

The fall in the river, which was originally 70 feet, has been increased to about 90 feet by 
a dam above. From this dam, a short sluice conducts the water into a basin or reservoir, 
partly prepared to the hands of the proprietors, and partly made by art and labor. A 

* Gordon's Gazetteer. 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 



411 



causey has been raised across an immense chasm, walled in by rocks, presenting almost 
perpendicular sides from tile bottom of the chasm to the upper edge of the precipice. 
The rocks, being of basaltic character, are of rectilinear form, and perpendicular in their 
position ; and this accounts for the comparatively smooth sides of this immense excava- 




View of the Passaic Falls, at Paterson. 

tlon. The causey serves two very important purposes : it is at once a dam which de- 
tains the water in the basin from which the milling power is drawn, and the bed of a 
turnpike road. Below the causey, the terrific chasm continues in its natural state, un- 
changed by human art, and, a few rods below, receives the remaining waters of the Pas- 
saic, after it has supplied the heavy demand of the mills. Branching off from the larger 
opening there is another, running nearly parallel with the river, which gradually dimin- 
ishes to a mere crevice between the perpendicular sides of the rock. Into this crevice, 
or opening, the waters of the Passaic, suddenly turning from their course, leap and dash 
with an impetuosity which converts the whole mass into foam. It is an awful, grand, 
and terrific sight, even now ; and we can readily imagine what it must have been when 
the whole flood of the river, swollen by rain and the melting snows, threw itself into the 
yawning gulf, from whose depths the bellowing thunders of the mighty flood, struggling 
for an outlet, and resisted by the walls of its prison-house, were reverberated by the sur- 
rounding hills with deafening roar. 

The waters escape, and, rushing to the wide bosom of the immense chasm first de- 
scribed, hurry over its rocky bed until they are tranquillized in the passage over a less 
precipitous descent below the town. Some miles from Paterson, the river passes through 
the romantic and picturesque village of Acquackanonck, and soon reaches the immense 
flats which border the North river and the Bay of New York, on the Jersey side. 
Thence it moves slowly and sullenly along, as if unwilling to mingle its pure stream with 
the salt water of the ocean. 

The short time allowed us for viewing this grand scenery, would not authorize us to 
form any conclusive opinions as to the causes which have produced the phenomena 
which present themselves at and near the Paterson Falls ; and even a part of this brief 
space was devoted to the complicated works of human skill and ingenuity which the 
factories contain. But we were led to think that the deep ravine in the rocks, which we 
have described, has been made by the waters of the river, which originally fell into it at 
the place where the basin now is. The regular and uniform position of the rocks on its 



412 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

sides does not warrant the supposition that the excavation was made by any convulsion 
of nature ; and then nothing remains but to attribute it to the operation of water, from a 
stream often swollen into a flood of tremendous power, by rain and melting snow, during 
thousands of years in which it flowed in this channel. 

The only facts which seem to oppose tliis opinion, are the evident appearances which 
indicate that the river once found an outlet a considerable distance below even the pres- 
ent falls ; which, as we have said, is below the point at which we suppose it originally 
escaped over the rocky barrier. But, allowing our supposition to be right, it may be rea- 
dily imagined that the river would gradually wear down the more yielding impediment 
of earth and stones directly in its course to the place at which it is presumed once to 
have found an outlet ; and this outlet being subsequently blocked up by trees and earth, 
washed down by the river, the waters again found their way into the channel it had 
made in the rocks, but a little lower down than at the point from which it originally took 
its leap into the chasm. But these are speculations which, without the records of his- 
tory, cannot be reduced to any certain conclusion. The Indians have left us no records : 
and, if they had, it is probable that most of the phenomena which now present them- 
selves at the Falls of Paterson, existed at a long time anterior to that in which the red 
man, — whom the pale-faces have driven away or exterminated, — sung his war-song ; 
but where the busy hum of industry is now heard, the splendid creations of civilized 
life surprise us by their number and variety, interest us by the complication of their de- 
sign and structure, and astonish us by the magnitude and importance of their results. 

From Alden's Collections, we take the annexed account of the 
death of Mrs. dimming, who perished at this spot about 30 years 
since : 

Mrs. Sarah Gumming, consort of the Rev. Hooper dimming, of Newark, was a 
daughter of the late Mr. John Emmons, of Portland, in the district of Maine. She was 
a lady of an amiable disposition, a well-cultivated mind, distinguished intelligence, and 
most exemplary piety; and she was much endeared to a large circle of respectable friends 
and connections. She had been married about 2 months, and was blessed with a flat- 
tering prospect of no common share of temporal felicity and usefulness in the sphere 
which Providence had assigned her ; but oh, how uncertain is the continuance of every 
earthly joy ! 

On Saturday, the 20th of June, 1812, Mr. dimming rode with his wife to Paterson, 
in order to supply, by presbyterial appointment, a destitute congregation in that place, 
on the following day. On Monday morning, he went with his beloved companion to 
show her the falls of the Passaic, and the surrounding beautiful, wild, and romantic 
scenery, — little expecting the solemn event which was to ensue. 

Having ascended the flights of stairs, Mr. and Mrs. Gumming walked over the solid 
ledge to the vicinity of the cataract, charmed with the wonderful prospect, and making 
various remarks upon the stupendous works of nature around them. At length they took 
their station on the brow of the solid rock, which overhangs the basin, six or eight rods 
from the falling water, where thousands have stood before, and where there is a fine view 
of most of the sublime curiosities of the place. When they had enjoyed the luxury of 
the scene for a considerable time, Mr. Gumming said, " My dear, I believe it is time for 
us to set our face homeward ;" and, at the same moment, turned round in order to lead 
the way. He instantly heard the voice of distress, looked back, and his wife was gone ! 

Mrs. Cumming had complained of a dizziness early in the morning ; and, as her eyes 
had been some time fixed upon the uncommon objects before her, when she moved with 
the view to retrace her steps, it is probable she was seized with the same malady, tot- 
tered, and in a moment fell, a distance of 74 feet, into the frightful gulf ! Mr. Cum- 
ming's sensations on the distressing occasion may, in some measure, be conceived, but 
they cannot be described. He was on the horders of distraction, and, scarcely knowing 
what he did, would have plunged into the abyss, had it not been kindly ordered in provi- 
dence that a young man should be near, who instantly flew to him, like a guardian angel, 
and held him from a step which his reason, at the time, could not have prevented. This 
young man led him from the precipice, and conducted him to the ground below the 
stairs. Mr. Gumming forced himself out of the hands of bis protector, and ran with 
violence, in order to leap into the fatal flood. His young friend, however, caught him 
once more, and held him till reason had resumed her throne. He then left him, to call 
the neighboring people to the place. Immediate search was made, and diligently con- 
tinued through the day, for the body of Mrs. Cumming ; but to no purpose. On the fol- 



PASSAIC COUNTY. 413 

lowing morning, her mortal part was found in a depth of 42 feet, and, the same day, was 
conveyed to Newark. 

On Wednesday, her funeral was attended by a numerous concourse of people. Her 
remains were carried into the church, where a pathetic and impressive discourse, happily 
adapted to the mournful occasion, was delivered by the Rev. James Richards. Solemn 
indeed was the scene. A profound silence pervaded the vast assembly. Every one 
seemed to hang upon the lips of the speaker. In every quarter, the sigh of sympathy 
and regret echoed to the tender and affecting address. 



POMPTON. 

Pompton derives its name from the Pompton tribe of Indians. 
It is 11 m. long, with an average width of 5 m. It is bounded N. 
by part of Orange co., New York ; E. by Franklin, Bergen co. and 
Manchester ; S. by Pequannock, Morris co., and W. by West Mil- 
ford. The surface is hilly and mountainous, and a good proportion 
of it covered with forest ; the soil is mainly clay and loam. Iron 
ore abounds in the hills. The Ringwood river passes through the 
township from N. to S., and the Ramapo river courses partially 
on its E., and the Pequannock on its S. boundary. There are in 
the township 8 forges, 1 furnace, 3 grist-mills, and 6 saw-mills ; 5 
schools, 186 scholars. Pop. 1,437. 

Ryerson's, on Pequannock river, in a fertile valley about 9 miles 
NW. of Paterson, contains 2 stores, a furnace, 3 grist-m., a Re- 
formed Dutch church, an academy, and about 20 dwellings, con- 
siderably scattered. Ringwood, Board ville, and Whinokie, are lo- 
calities on Ringwood river, where there are forges. 

In the winter of 1780-81, some of the Jersey troops were sta- 
tioned part of the time at Pompton. After the successful mutiny 
of the Pennsylvania line at Morristown, a part of the Jersey bri- 
gade, composed chiefly of foreigners, revolted, on the night of the 
20th of January, and demanded the same indulgence as that given 
to the Pennsylvania line. On receiving the information, Washing- 
ton dispatched a body of troops, under Gen. Howe, to bring them 
to unconditional submission. Thatcher, who accompanied the de- 
tachment, thus minutely relates the circumstances : 

Marched on the 27th, at one o'clock, A. M., eight miles, which brought us in view of 
the huts of the insurgent soldiers by dawn of day. Here we halted for an hour, to make 
the necessary preparations. Some of our officers suffered much anxiety '*st the soldiers 
would not prove faithful on this trying occasion. Orders were given to load their 
arms — it was obeyed with alacrity, and indications were given that they were to be 
relied on. Being paraded in a line, General Howe harangued them, representing the 
heinousness of the crime of mutiny, and the absolute necessity of military subor- 
dination, adding that the mutineers must be brought to an unconditional submission, no 
temporizing, no listening to terms of compromise, while in a state of resistance. Two 
field-pieces were now ordered to be placed in view of the insurgents, and the troops were 
directed to surround the huts on all sides. General Howe next ordered his aid-de-camp 
to command the mutineers to appear on parade in front of their huts unarmed, within 
five minutes ; observing them to hesitate, a second messenger was sent, and they instant- 
ly obeyed the command, and paraded in a line without arms, being in number between 
two and three hundred. Finding themselves closely encircled and unable to resist, they 
quietly submitted to the fate which awaited them. General Howe ordered that three of 
the ringleaders should be selected as victims for condign punishment. These unfortu- 
nate culprits were tried on the spot, Colonel Sprout being president of the court martial, 



414 PASSAIC COUNTY. 

standing on the snow, and they were sentenced to be immediately shot. Twelve of the 
most guilty mutineers were next selected to be their executioners. This was a most 
painful task ; being themselves guilty, they were greatly distressed with the duty im- 
posed on them, and when ordered to load, some of them shed tears. The wretched vic- 
tims, overwhelmed by the terrors of death, had neither time nor power to implore the 
mercy and forgiveness of their God, and such was their agonizing condition, that no 
heart could refrain from emotions of sympathy and compassion. The first that suffered 
was a sergeant, and an old offender : he was led a few yards distance and placed on his 
knees ; six of the executioners, at the signal given by an officer, fired, three aiming at 
the head and three at the breast, the other six reserving their fire in order to dispatch the 
victim, should the first fire fail ; it so happened in this instance : the remaining six then 
fired, and life was instantly extinguished. The second criminal was, by the first fire, 
sent into eternity in an instant. The third, being less criminal, by the recommendation 
of his officers, to his unspeakable joy, received a pardon. This tragical scene produced 
a dreadful shock, and a salutary effect on the minds of the guilty soldiers. Never were 
men more completely humbled and penitent ; tears of sorrow and of joy rushed from 
their eyes, and each one appeared to congratulate himself that his forfeited life had been 
spared. The executions being finished, General Howe ordered the former officers to take 
their stations, and resume their respective commands ; he then, in a very pathetic and 
affecting manner, addressed the whole line by platoons, endeavoring to impress their 
minds with a sense of the enormity of their crime, and the dreadful consequences that 
might have resulted. He then commanded them to ask pardon of their officers, and 
promise to devote themselves to the faithful discharge of their duty as soldiers in future. 
It is most painful to reflect, that circumstances should imperiously demand the infliction 
of capital punishment on soldiers, who have more than a shadow of plea to extenuate their 
crime. These unfortunate men have long suffered many serious grievances, which they 
have sustained with commendable patience ; but have at length lost their confidence in 
public justice. The success of the Pennsylvania insurgents, undoubtedly encouraged 
them to hope for exemption from punishment. But the very existence of an army de- 
pends on proper discipline and subordination. The arm of authority must be exerted, 
and public examples be exhibited, to deter from the commission of crimes. The spirit of 
revolt must be effectually repressed, or a total annihilation of the army is inevitable. Sir 
Henry Clinton on this occasion had his hopes again excited ; ever ready to profit by 
treachery or revolt, he dispatched an emissary to encourage the insurrection, and to make 
the most tempting offers to induce the mutineers to desert, and join the British standard; 
but the messenger himself frustrated his hopes, by delivering the papers to our own offi- 
cers. 



WEST MILFORD. 

West Milford was formed from Pompton in 1834. It is situated 
NW. of Paterson 15 m. It is 13 m. long, with an average width 
of 7 m. ; and is bounded N. by part of Orange co., New York, E. 
by Pompton, S. by Pequannock and Jefferson, Morris co., and W. 
by Hardiston and Vernon, Sussex co. There are in the township 
10 forges, 2 tanneries, 2 grist-m., 5 saw-m. ; 11 schools, 408 schol- 
ars. Pop. 2,108. 

The surface is generally hilly or mountainous, and it is watered 
by numerous small streams. There are several small ponds in the 
south part, — their outlets flowing into Pequannock river : they are 
Mackepin, Hanks, Cedar, Buck, and Dunker's ponds. Long Pond, 
a favorite resort for anglers, extends from Orange co. into the N 
part. The manufacture of iron is extensively carried on in the 
township. New Milford is a thickly-settled agricultural vicin- 
ity, in the central part. There is at that place a Presbyterian 
church, and the surrounding country is fertile. 



SALEM COUNTY. 41 5 



SALEM COUNTY. 

Salem county,* the southwestern county of the state, is bounded 
W. and S. by the Delaware river and bay, (the former merging into 
the bay a few miles from the southern termination of the county,) 
N. by Gloucester co., and E. and S. by Cumberland co. Its extreme 
length, N. and S., is 28 m. ; breadth, E. and W., 25 m. The coun- 
ty was named by John Fenwick, and distinguished as his tenth, 
in 1675. The name and jurisdiction were settled by a proprietary 
law in 1694. In 1709-10, the boundaries were definitely fixed, and 
then included Cumberland co. within the limits ; and in 1748, this 
latter county was formed from it. The prominent streams are Sa- 
lem river, Alloways creek, Stow creek, on the line of Cumberland 
co., and Oldman's creek, on that of Gloucester co. Salem river 
rises in the eastern part of the county, and empties into the Dela- 
ware river 3^ miles below Salem. It is navigable for shallops 
about 30 miles, and vessels of 100 tons come up as far as Salem. 
The county is of alluvial formation, and generally level ; the soil, 
mostly light sand, occasionally mixed with clay or loam. That 
part bordering on the Delaware, is principally marshy land, strips 
of which extend many miles up the country, on the borders of Stow 
and Alloways creeks, and Salem river. The prevailing religious 
denomination in. the county is the Friends ; the Methodists and 
Baptists rank next in numbers. The trade of the county consists 
of wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats, and vegetables, for the Philadel- 
phia market ; lumber, wood, clover, timothy, and particularly herd- 
grass seed, large quantities of which are exported to New Eng- 
land. The following is a list of the townships, which are nine in 
number : — 

Upper Alloways Creek, Mannington, Pilesgrove, 

Lower Alloways Creek, Upper Penn's Neck, Pittsgrove, 
Elsinborough, Lower Penn's Neck, Salem. 

In 1810, the population of the county was 12,761 ; in 1820, 
14,022; in 1830, 14,155; in 1840, 16,035. 



UPPER ALLOWAYS CREEK. 

This township is about 8 m. in length, 7 m. in breadth, and is 
bounded NE. by Pittsgrove and Pilesgrove, SE. by Deerfield, Hope- 
well, and Stow creek, Cumberland co., SW. by Lower Alloways 
Creek, and NW. by Elsinborough. There are in the township 1 

* A large portion of the historical matter relating to Salem co., and part of that of 
Cumberland co., is from the History of Salem, by R. G. Johnson, an l8mo of 173 pages, 
published in 1839. 



416 



SALEM COUNTY. 



woollen fac, 6 grist-m., 7 saw-m. ; cap. . in manufac. $29,800 ; 8 
schools, 400 scholars. Pop. 2,235. 

Alio ways creek, which runs through the township, derives its appel- 
lation from an Indian chief, named Alloways, who lived in this coun- 
try at the period of Fenwick's arrival, in 1675. The township was 
early settled. About the year 1748, a German Lutheran church, 
called Emanuel's, was established at Freasburg, the constituents 
of which are believed to have been all Germans. Their names 
were Freas, Trollenger, Meyer, Hahn, Born, Wentzell, Mackassen, 




Northern Entrance into Allowaystown. 

Heppel, Ridman, Dillshoever, Sowder, Kniest, Tobal, and others, 
with their families. These people worked at Wistar's glass-works, 
2\ miles above Allowaystown, which are said to have been the 
first glass-works established in the Union. The church records 
were kept in German, until 1832, when the Rev. Mr. Harpel took 
the oversight of the same. In 1836, he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. 
Reynolds. In Sept. of the same year, he was succeeded by the 
Rev. Mr. Duy, and he, in 1839, by the Rev. Mr. Town. 

The above view of the northern entrance into Allowaystown, 
taken near Reeves and Brother's mills, which appear on the right 
of the engraving, shows the principal street in the place. This 
thriving village is at the head of navigation, on Alloways creek, 6 
m. E. of Salem. It contains a Baptist and a Methodist church, 
several stores, and about 800 inhabitants. Ship-building is carried 
on here to a considerable extent ; besides many small vessels, one 
or two large ships of 600 tons burden have been constructed. The 
white-oak of this region is said to be nearly equal, for ship timber, 
to the famous live-oak of Florida. There are a few localities in 
this township, known as Quinton's Bridge, Freasburg, Stockingtown, 
and Guineatown ; the first of which contains 2 stores, a lime-kiln, 
and about a dozen dwellings. 

The annexed account of military operations in this vicinity, in 
the revolutionary war, is from Johnson's History of Salem : — 

It was about the 20th Feb., 1778, that a detachment of British troops 



SALEM COUNTY. 417 

were sent from Philadelphia, by water, to Salem. They were in number 
about 500 men, under the command of Col. Abercrombie, of the 52d regi- 
ment. They came by water, and returned the same way, after remaining 
a few days, and helping themselves to whatever they wanted. It was gen- 
erally believed that they were sent here on a reconnoitering party, and to 
ascertain the resources of the county. 

On the 17th March, 1778, another British regiment, which had been se- 
lected from the 17th and 44th regiments in the city of Philadelphia, and 
mostly Scotchmen, under the command of Col. Charles Mavvhood, and his 
majors, Simcoe and Sims, said to have been from 1,200 to 1,500 strong, 
marched into Salem early in the forenoon, having encamped the night be- 
fore near Sharptown, and anticipating that they might surprise Col. Anthony 
Wayne, the commander of the Americans, before he was aware of their 
approach. But Wayne was too vigilant an officer to be surprised here. He 
made good his retreat without any loss. As soon as the town was in pos- 
session of the enemy, the tories hastened hither, and as many enlisted as to 
make up two companies, who were called refugees. British officers were 
put in command of them, and that they might be known from the foreign 
troops, whose uniform was red, these refugees were dressed in a uniform 
entirely different from the foreign, which was green, faced with white, and 
cocked hats with broad white binding around them. 

Col. Mavvhood, having now an addition of two companies to his regiment, 
composed of the most desperate and abandoned wretches that ever drew the 
breath of life, and obtaining from them all the necessary information, learned 
that our militia, under the command of Col. Benjamin Holmes, were about 
300, who were posted on the south side of Alloways creek, at Quinton's 
bridge, about 3 miles from Salem, and were determined to hold good their 
standing there, and prevent him, if possible, from crossing into Alloways 
Creek township. He resolved, therefore, to beat up their quarters, and, as 
he publicly declared, chastise the insolent rebels, as he was pleased to call 
our people, for having the impudence to dare to show resistance to his maj- 
esty's arms. He sent out into the country around, and took from the farm- 
ers as many horses as to complete a troop, which he had immediately 
mounted with his best men, and attached it to the regiment. Col. Holmes, 
anticipating a visit from the enemy, went on an exploring party with some 
of his officers to Allowaystown, about 2 miles above Quinton's bridge, for 
the purpose of appointing a few trusty persons as videttes, with directions 
to advance on the road from thence towards Salem, and watch the motions 
of the enemy, lest he might send a detachment that way, cross the creek at 
the bridge there, and attack him from that quarter. 

Col. Mawhood, on the 18th March, sent out Major Simcoe from Salem 
before daylight in the morning, with his battalion, who came undiscovered 
within half a mile of the bridge, and there placed his men in that ambus- 
cade which proved so fatal to a portion of our militia but a few hours after- 
ward. On the left of the main road leading to the bridge, and within half 
gunshot of it, there ran up a ravine leading from the creek, at that time a 
thick swamp, grown up with maples and bushes of every kind ; this swamp 
continued its course to where the road made a short turn ; at about half 
way between this turn in the road and the bridge on the Alloways creek, 
was a two-story brick house, with a barn and other outbuildings ; this 
house was then in the occupation of Benjamin Wetherby ; the main road 
to Salem ran close to the south end of the house, and the barn directly on 

53 



418 SALEM COUNTY. 

the opposite side, while the swamp, with its thicket of bushes, came within 
80 or 100 feet of the north side of the house. In this swamp, dwelling- 
house, and barn, the British troops were secreted. The family were driven 
into the cellar. At the upper end of the lane, where the road made a turn, 
there were woods ; from these, some few of the redcoats, (as the enemy 
were sometimes called,) with a small number of light-horsemen, would show 
themselves, and march down the road in a taunting manner, as if challeng- 
ing our people to a contest, and now and then advance near to the brick 
house, and then retreat to the woods again. 

During these petty manoeuvres of the enemy, the spirit of our soldiers 
was excited to such a degree, as that there appeared to be an almost unan- 
imous disposition in the militia to go over the bridge and chastise them. 
The most wary of the officers opposed the movement proposed, because 
the orders of the commanding officer had been peremptory, that they were 
to stand their ground, and defend the bridge to the last extremity, should 
the enemy attempt to force a passage in his absence. 

During this parley among them, a little Frenchman by the name of De- 
coe, a lieutenant, who was full of fight, represented to Capt. William Smith, 
then the senior officer present, how easy it would be for them to go over 
and "drub those insolent rascals." Capt. Smith being equally animated, 
forthwith mounted his horse, and called upon his men to follow. They 
immediately obeyed and marched on, or rather huddled promiscuously 
along the road, with scarcely any military order. The decoying enemy, 
seeing the confused manner in which the militia were approaching them, 
feigned a retreat. Captain Smith, being in advance of his men, was call- 
ing upon them to hasten on, saying, " We will have them before they get to 
Mill-hollow," — a ravine over which the then road leading to Salem passed, 
and about two miles from Quinton's bridge. 

During this higgledy-piggledy marching, if I may so call it, no one 
thought, while passing, to examine either the barn, dwelling-house, or 
swamp in the rear of it. When the militia had advanced some yards be- 
yond the house, the enemy rose up, and poured forth upon our people a 
most destructive fire, from the swamp, house, barn, and fences, under 
which many of them were secreted. The militia were thrown into confu- 
sion. It was at this moment that Capt. Smith displayed great bravery and 
presence of mind in attempting to rally his men, but they were so com- 
pletely surprised that he could not form them into line. The light-horse 
from the woods now came dashing among them ; but their horses, being 
untrained, soon frightened at the clash of arms and report of guns, and 
could not be brought within striking distance of the sabre, except in a few 
instances. Our people retreated fighting in small squads, and although at 
first surprised, and attacked in flank and rear, they made good their retreat 
across the bridge, but with the loss of between thirty and forty of their 
comrades. 

Col. Hand, of the Cumberland militia, being informed by Col. Holmes 
that the enemy were in Salem, put his regiment in motion, and was hasten- 
ing to join Holmes at Quinton's bridge, and by an unforeseen Providence, 
as designed, he arrived there at the very moment when the enemy was deal- 
ing death and destruction among our people. Immediately on his arrival, he 
placed his men in the trenches which our soldiers had but a little while 
before left, and opened upon the pursuing enemy such a continued and 
well-directed fire, as soon put a stop to their career, and saved our people 



SALEM COUNTY. 419 

from being cut to pieces. Hand had with him two pieces of artillery, which, 
when they opened, soon obliged the enemy to face about. Capt. Smith had 
some of his hair shot away from the back part of his head, a bullet grazed 
his loins, and his horse received two bullets in him, yet he carried his rider 
safe over the bridge, and then fell dead under him. 

One extraordinary act of consummate bravery and desperate daring 
during the fight, deserves to be recorded. It was that which was performed 
by Andrew Bacon, of the militia, a man whose life was protracted until he 
was past eighty years of age before he died. After our militia had effected 
their retreat across the creek to their works, Bacon seized an axe, and set 
to with all his might, with a determination to cut down the draw of the 
bridge, as it was apparent the design of the enemy was to beat and drive 
our soldiers from their trenches, if possible ; he persevered in chopping, 
(while the enemy were directing their shot at him,) until he cut away the 
draw, and rendered it impassable ; as he was hastening to the trenches, he 
received a wound, which, poor fellow, rendered him a cripple for life. The 
enemy being now foiled, notwithstanding all their exertions to cross the 
creek, and seeing the draw of the bridge cut away and destroyed in their 
presence, were reluctantly obliged to give up the contest, and return to 
Salem. 

Colonel Mawhood, exceedingly chagrined that Major Simcoe, with his 
fine battalion, could not drive our people from their intrenchments, was 
determined not to permit them to bid defiance to his majesty's arms any 
longer, and resolved on the morrow to make one desperate effort, with all 
his disposable force, to dislodge the militia from their stronghold, and crush 
them for their insolence. Our troops being well aware that the pride of 
the enemy was excessively mortified in being thus foiled by a raw and 
undisciplined militia, in their attempt to take the bridge, employed the re- 
mainder of the day in strengthening their breastworks and other defences — 
in administering all the comfort in their power to their wounded comrades, 
and in burying of the dead. Their feelings being now wrought up to the 
highest pitch, on that night they entered into the most solemn resolutions, 
that no " British soldier should eat bread or set his foot on that side of the 
Alloways creek," as long as there was a man left to defend it. Accord- 
ingly, as it was anticipated, on the next morning about ten o'clock the 
whole British force appeared, approaching in battle array. 

They imagined that they would strike terror into the hearts of our people 
by playing upon all their martial instruments of music, as they boldly ad- 
vanced to the foot of the causeway in columns of battalions, where they dis- 
played and formed their lines on the edge of the marsh. The refugees 
were there in the ranks on the right of the British regulars, and many of 
them were recognized by our people, as men who had been inhabitants of 
our own county, then in arms against their own neighbors. 

Previous to the approach of the enemy, Cols. Holmes and Hand had 
placed their men under cover in their intrenchments, both up and down the 
creek, as far as the discharge of musketry would tell with good effect. 
The creek running circularly towards the enemy, and from the position in 
which their line was then formed, they became exposed to the certain and 
destructive fire from our people in front, and on both flanks. In this posi- 
tion were they when our militia opened upon them such a well-directed 
and destructive fire, that, brave as they were, they could not long stand it. 
They then saw, to their woful disappointment, that they could make no 



420 SALEM COUNTY. 

impression upon our people ; they were not to be intimidated, for they felt 
themselves secure under cover and upon a high bank, with the creek be- 
tween them, and the bridge destroyed. For the enemy to make a despe- 
rate effort to advance through the marsh to the edge of the creek, would 
answer no good purpose, but only expose themselves to certain destruction. 
In their attempt to penetrate along the causeway to gain the bridge, they 
were so galled by the incessant fire poured in upon their left flank from 
what is now the ship-yard, as well as assailed by small-arms and the two 
pieces of cannon in their front, that they were thrown into confusion, were 
obliged to retreat back to Salem, and leave the small village of Quinton's 
bridge in the possession of our gallant militia. 

The next day a detachment of the enemy marched through a little settle- 
ment called Guineatown, near to Allowaystown, situated at the head of 
the tide-water, but returned, not venturing to cross the bridge there. 

Mawhood now set about accomplishing the errand which he had been 
sent to perform — which was to plunder the farmers of all the hay, grain, 
cattle, horses, and, indeed, of every thing that might be of benefit to the 
British. He therefore sent out his men and pressed into his service all the 
teams that he could obtain, and set them to work under the supervision of 
a military guard in transporting every thing he found necessary to the ves- 
sels, which had been sent for that purpose ; — the like in number have 
never been seen at one time in our creek, either before or since. These 
productions of the farmers were carried to Philadelphia, where they were 
very much wanted — that city being the head-quarters of the enemy. The 
foragers were directed to explore Elsinborough, Lower Mannington, and 
Salem, where he was sure no resistance could be offered to them. He 
directed a strong party to attend the foragers into the township of Lower 
Penn's Neck. The bridge over the main creek, and road leading from 
Salem into the Neck, was situated about two miles higher up than where 
it now crosses. 

Captain Andrew Sinnickson lived at that time in Penn's Neck, and being 
notified of the party approaching, hastily collected together as many of his 
men as could be mustered, came upon the guard and their foragers, (in 
what was then called the Long Lane,) and after a severe contest the enemy 
was routed, and in the melee the commanding officer lost his hat and cloak, 
and was obliged to flee to Salem without them. The next day Capt. Sin- 
nickson sent a flag into the town, with the hat and cloak belonging to the 
unfortunate officer, with something like this laconic message : " That he 
had to regret the sudden departure of the officer, the owner of' these articles, 
hit hoped that if he intended another visit into that township he might have the 
pleasure of detaining him, until they became better acquainted.'''' 

Below is the letter of the British commander to Col. Elijah 
Hand, written a day or two after the affair at Quintin's Bridge, 
together with the reply : 

Colonel Mawhood, commanding a detachment of the British army at Salem, in- 
duced by motives of humanity, proposes to the militia at Quintin's Bridge and the 
neighborhood, as well officers as private men, to lay down their arms and depart, each 
man to his own home. On that condition, he solemnly promises to re-embark his troops 
without delay, doing no further damage to the country ; and he will cause his commis- 
saries to pay for the cattle, hay, and corn that have been taken, in sterling money. 

If, on the contrary, the militia should be so far deluded, and blind to their true interest 
and happiness, he will put the arms which he has brought with him into the hands of 
the inhabitants well affected, called tories ; and will attack all such of the militia as re- 



SALEM COUNTY. 421 

main in arms, burn and destroy their houses and other property, and reduce them, their 
unfortunate wives and children, to beggary and distress. And, to convince them that 
these are not vain threats, he has subjoined a list of the names of such as will be the 
first objects to feed the vengeance of the British nation. 

Given under my hand, at head-quarters, at Salem, the twenty-first day of March, 1778. 

C. MAWHOOD, Colonel. 

" Edmund Keasby, Thomas Sinnickson, Samuel Dick, Whitten Cripps, Ebenezer 
Howell, Edward Hall, John Rowen, Thomas Thompson, George Trenchard, Elisha Cat- 
tel, Andrew Sinnickson, Nicholas Kean, Jacob Hufty, Benjamin Holmes, William 
Shute, Anthony Sharp, and Abner Penton." 



COLONEL HAND'S REPLY. 

Sir : I have been favored with what you say humanity has induced you to propose. 
It would have given me much pleasure to have found that humanity had been the line 
of conduct to your troops, since you came to Salem. Not denying quarters, but butch- 
ering our men who surrendered themselves prisoners, in the skirmish atQuintin's Bridge, 
last Thursday ; and bayoneting, yesterday morning, at Hancock's Bridge, in the most 
cruel manner, in cold blood, men who were taken by surprise, in a situation in which 
they neither could nor did attempt to make any resistance, and some of whom were not 
fighting men, — are instances too shocking for me to relate, and I hope for you to hear. 
The brave are ever generous and humane. After expressing your sentiments of human- 
ity, you proceed to make a request, which I think you would despise us if complied 
with. Your proposal that we should lay down our arms, we absolutely reject. We have 
taken them up to maintain rights which are dearer to us than our lives ; and will not 
lay them down till either success has crowned our arms with victory, or, like many an- 
cient worthies contending for liberty, we meet with an honorable death. You mention 
that, if we reject your proposal, you will put arms in the hands of the tories against us. 
We have no objection to the measure, for it would be a very good one to fill our arsenals 
with arms. Your threats to wantonly burn and destroy our houses and other property, 
and reduce our wives and children to beggary and distress, is a sentiment which my 
humanity almost forbids me only to recite ; and induces me to imagine that I am read- 
ing the cruel order of a barbarous Attila, and not of a gentleman, brave, generous, and 
polished, with a genteel European education. To wantonly destroy will injure your cause 
more than ours ; it will increase your enemies and our army. To destine to destruction 
the property of our most distinguished men, as you have done in your proposals, is, in 
my opinion, unworthy a generous foe ; and more like a rancorous feud, between two con- 
tending barons, than a war carried on, by one of the greatest powers on earth, against 
a people nobly struggling for liberty. A line of honor would mark out that these men 
should share the fate of their country. If your arms should be crowned with victory, 
(which God forbid !) they and their property will be entirely at the disposal of your sove- 
reign. The loss of their property, while their persons are out of your power, will only 
render them desperate ; and, as I said before, increase your foes and our army. And 
retaliation upon tories, and their property, is not entirely out of our power. Be assured 
that these are the sentiments, and determined resolution, not of myself only, but of all 
the officers and privates under me. 

My prayer is, sir, that this answer may reach you in health and great happiness. 
Given at head-quarters, at Quinton's Bridge, the 22d day of March, 1778. 

ELIJAH HAND, Colonel. 

The annexed plan of the " Affair at Quinton's Bridge," is a re- 
duced copy of one drawn by Lieut. Col. Simcoe, accompanying his 
Military Journal. Col. Simcoe was the celebrated commander of a 
partisan corps, in the revolution, called the "Queen's Rangers," 
and late in life was lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, at which 
time, although a gentlemanly man, he was noted for his prejudices 
against the United States. His journal has been republished at 
New York the present year, (1844,) by Bartlett & Welford. The 
following is Major (afterward Lieut. Col.) Simcoe's account of his 
operations in the vicinity of Salem : 

An expedition was formed under the command of the late Colonel Maw- 



422 



SALEM COUNTY. 



hood, consisting of the 27th and 46th regiments, the Queen's Rangers, and 
New Jersey Volunteers ; they embarked the 12th of March, and fell down 
the Delaware. On the 17th, the Queen's Rangers landed, at three o'clock 

[Scale one-half of a mile.] 




Plan of the Affair at Quinton's Bridge, 18th March, 1778. 

' References. — A. The rebels in their works. B. Detachment of the 17th of Infant- 
ry masking the Bridge. C. The Light Infantry of the Rangers ambuscaded in a house. 
D. A detachment commanded by Capt. Saunders in ambuscade. E. Huzzars and In- 
fantry of Queen's Rangers in the wood. F. Detachment of the 17th, retreating in view 
of the enemy. G. Rebels passing the bridge. H. Sally of the Light Infantry and pur- 
suit of the Rangers. I. Flight of the enemy.] 

in the morning, about six miles from Salem, the Huzzars carrying their ac- 
coutrements and swords. Major Simcoe was directed to seize horses, to 
mount the cavalry and the staff, and to join Colonel Mawhood at Salem; 
this was accordingly executed. Major Simcoe, making a circuit and pass- 
ing over Lambstone's bridge, arrived at Salem, near which Colonel Mawhood 
landed. The Huzzars were tolerably well mounted, and sufficient horses 
procured for the other exigencies of the service ; Colonel Mawhood had 
given the strictest charge against plundering; and Major Simcoe, in taking 
the horses, had assured the inhabitants that they should be returned, or paid 
for, if they did not appear in arms, in a very few days ; and none but offi- 
cers entering the houses, they received no other injury. The Queen s 
Rangers' infantry were about two hundred and seventy, rank and file, and 
thirty cavalry ; Colonel Mawhood gave directions for the forage to take 
place on the 18th. The town of Salem lies upon a creek of that name 
which falls into the Delaware nearly opposite Reedy island ; the Aloes, or 
Allewas [Alloways] creek, runs almost parallel to the Salem creek, and 
falls into the Delaware to the southward of it ; over this creek there were 
three bridges : Hancock's was the lower one, Quintin's that in the centre, 
and Thompson's the upper one. Between these creeks the foraging was to 
commence ; the neck, or peninsula, formed by them was at its greatest dis- 
tance seven, and at its least four miles wide. The rebel m'uitia was posted 
at Hancock's and Quintin's, the nearest bridges, which they had taken up 



SALEM COUNTY. 423 

and defended by breast-works. Colonel Mawhood made detachments to 
mask these bridges, and foraged in their rear : the officer who commanded 
the detachment, consisting of seventy of the 17th infantry, at Quintin's 
bridge, sent information that the enemy were assembled in great numbers at 
the bridge, and indicated as if they meant to pass over whenever he should 
quit it, in which case his party would be in great danger. Colonel Mawhood 
marched with the Queen's Rangers to his assistance : he made a circuit so 
as to fall in upon the road that led from Thompson's to Quintin's bridge, to 
deceive any patrole which he might meet on his march, and to make them 
believe that he directed it to Thompson's, not Quintin's bridge. Approach- 
ing the bridge, the Rangers halted in the wood, and Col. Mawhood and Ma- 
jor Simcoe went to the party of the 17th, but in such a manner as to give 
no suspicion that they were part of a reinforcement ; the ground was high, 
till within two hundred yards of the bridge, where it became marshy ; im- 
mediately beyond the bridge the banks were steep, and on them the enemy 
had thrown up breast- works ; there was a public house very near the road, 
at the edge of its declivity into the marsh, on the Salem side. Colonel 
Mawhood asked Major Simcoe " whether he thought, if he left a party in the 
house, the enemy would pass by it or not ?" who replied, " that he thought 
they would be too cowardly to do it ; but at any rate the attempt could do no 
harm, and, if he pleased, he would try." Colonel Mawhood directed Major 
Simcoe to do so, who accordingly, profiting by the broken ground of the or- 
chard which was behind it, and the clothing of his men, brought Captain 
Stephenson and his company into the house undiscovered ; the front windows 
were opened, and the back ones were shut, so that no thorough light could 
be seen ; the women of the house were put in the cellar, and ordered to be 
silent ; the door was left open, and Lieutenant M'Kay stood behind it, with a 
bayonet, ready to seize the first person whose curiosity might prompt him to 
enter ; the Queen's Rangers were brought into the wood near to that part 
where it ended in clear ground, and two companies, under Captain Saunders, 
were advanced to the fences at the very edge of it, where they lay flat. 
Colonel Mawhood then gave orders for the detachment of the 17th, who were 
posted near the house, to call in their sentinels and retreat up the road in 
full view of the enemy. This party had scarcely moved, when the enemy 
laid the bridge and passed it ; a detachment of them went immediately 
across the marsh to the heights on the left, but the principal party, about 
two hundred, in two divisions, proceeded up the road ; Captain Stephenson, 
as they approached the house, could hear them say, " Let us go into the 
house," &c, but they were prevented, both by words and by action, by the 
officer who was at their head : he was on horseback, and spurring forward, 
quitted the road to go into the field, on the right, through a vacancy made 
by the rails being taken for fires ; his party still proceeded up the road, and 
the first division passed the house ; the officer, his sight still fixed on the 
red clothes of the 17th, approached close up to the fence where Captain 
Saunders lay ; he did not immediately observe the Rangers, and, it is prob- 
able, he might not, had he not heard one of the men stifling a laugh ; looking 
down he saw them, and galloped off; he was fired at, wounded, and taken. 
The division that had passed the house attempted to return. Captain Ste- 
phenson sallied, drove them across the fields. Captain Saunders pursued 
them. The Huzzars were let loose, and afterward the battalion, Colonel 
Mawhood leading them. Major Simcoe directed the 17th back to the house, 
with the grenadiers and Highlanders of the Rangers, ready to force the 
bridge, if ordered j the enemy, for a moment, quitted it j Colonel Mawhood 



424 SALEM COUNTY. 

thought it useless to pass it. Some of the division, who passed the house, 
were taken prisoners, but the greater part were drowned in the Aloes creek. 
The officer who was taken proved to be a Frenchman. The Rangers had 
one Huzzar mortally wounded ; and what was unfortunate, he was wound- 
ed by a man whom in the eagerness of the pursuit he had passed, given 
quarters to, and not disarmed ; the villain, or coward, was killed by another 
Huzzar. The corps returned to Salem. 

The rebels still occupying the posts at Quintin and Hancock's bridge, 
and probably accumulating, Colonel Mawhood determined to attack them at 
the latter, where, from all reports, they were assembled to near four hun- 
dred men. He intrusted the enterprise to Major Simcoe, and went with 
him and a patrole opposite to the place ; the Major ascended a tree, and 
made a rough sketch of the buildings, which, by conversing with the guides, 
he improved into a tolerable plan of the place, and formed his mode of at- 
tack accordingly. He embarked on the 20th, at night, on board the flat- 
boats ; he was to be landed at an inlet, seven miles below Aloes creek, when 
the boats were immediately to be returned, and by a private road he was to 
reach Hancock's bridge, opposite to which, Major Mitchell was detached 
with the 27th regiment, to co-operate with him. Major Simcoe foresaw the 
difficulties and dangers, but he kept them to himself: every thing depended 
upon surprise. The enemy were nearly double his numbers ; and his re- 
treat, by the absolute orders to send back the boats, was cut off; but he had 
just confidence in the silence, attention, and spirit of the corps. By some 
strange error in the naval department, when the boats arrived off Aloes 
creek, the tide set so strong against them that, in the opinion of the officer 
of the navy, they could not reach the place of their destination till mid-day. 
Major Simcoe determined not to return, but to land on the marshes at the 
mouth of the Aloes creek ; there were good guides with him : they found 
out a landing place, and after a march of two miles through marshes, up to 
the knees in mud and water, labors rendered more fatiguing by the carriage 
of the first wooden planks they met with, to form bridges with them over the 
ditches, they at length arrived at a wood upon dry land. Here the corps 
was formed for the attack. There was no public road which led to Han- 
cock's bridge, but that which the Rangers were now in possession of; a 
bank, on which there was a footway, led from Hancock's to Quintin's 
bridge. Hancock's house was a large brick house ; there were many store- 
houses round it, and some few cottages. Captain Saunders was detached 
to ambuscade the dyke that led to Quintin's bridge, about half a mile from 
the quarters, and to take up a small bridge which was upon it, as the enemy 
would probably fly that way, and if not pursued too closely, would be more 
easily defeated. Captain Dunlop was detached to the rear of Hancock's 
house, in which it was presumed the rebel officers quartered ; directed to 
force it, occupy and barricade it, as it commanded the passage of the bridge. 
Different detachments were allotted to the houses supposed to be the ene- 
my's quarters, which having mastered, they were ordered to assemble at 
Hancock's ; a party was appropriated to relay the bridge. On approaching 
the place, two sentries were discovered ; two men of the light infantry fol- 
lowed them, and, as they turned about, bayoneted them ; the companies 
rushed in, and each, with proper guides, forced the quarters allotted to it. 
No resistance being made, the light infantry, who were in reserve, reached 
Hancock's house by the road, and forced the front door, at the same time 
that Captain Dunlop, by a more difficult way, entered the back door ; as it 
was very dark, these companies had nearly attacked each other. The sur- 



SALEM COUNTY. 425 

prise was complete, and would have been so, had the whole of the enemy's 
force been present, but, fortunately for them, they had quitted it the evening 
before, leaving a detachment of twenty or thirty men, all of whom were 
killed. Some very unfortunate circumstances happened here. Among the 
killed was a friend of government, then a prisoner with the rebels, old 
Hancock, the owner of the house, and his brother. Major Simcoe had made 
particular inquiry, and was informed that he did not live at home, since the 
rebels had occupied the bridge. The information was partly true ; he was 
not there in the day-time, but unfortunately returned home at night. Events 
like these are the real miseries of war. The roads which lead to the 
country were immediately ambuscaded ; and Lieutenant Whitlock was de- 
tached to surprise a patrole of seven men who had been sent down the creek ; 
this he effected completely. On their refusal to surrender, he fired on them. 
Only one escaped. This firing gave the first notice of the success of the 
enterprise to the 27th regiment; with so much silence it had hitherto been 
conducted. The bridge was now laid ; and Major Simcoe communicated 
to Colonel Mitchell that the enemy were at Quintin's bridge ; that he had 
good guides to conduct them thither by a private road, and that the posses- 
sion of Hancock's house secured a retreat. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell 
said that his regiment was much fatigued by the cold, and that he would 
return to Salem as soon as the troops joined. The ambuscades were of 
course withdrawn, and the Queen's Rangers were forming to pass the 
bridge, when a rebel patroll passed where an ambuscade had been, and 
discovering the corps, gallopped back. Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, find- 
ing his men in high spirits, had returned, purposing to march to Quin- 
tin's bridge ; but being informed of the enemy's patroll, it was thought best 
to return. Colonel Mawhood, in public orders, " returned his best thanks to 
Major Simcoe and his corps, for their spirited and good conduct in the sur- 
prise of the rebel posts." Two days after, the Queen's Rangers patrolled 
to Thompson's bridge ; the enemy, who had been posted there, were alarm- 
ed at the approach of a cow the night before, fired at it, wounded it, and 
then fled ; they also abandoned Quintin's bridge, and retired to a creek, six- 
teen miles from Aloes creek. Major Simcoe, making a patrole with the 
Huzzars, took a circuit towards the rear of one of the parties sent out to 
protect the foragers ; a party of the enemy had been watching them the 
whole day, and unluckily, the forage being completed, the detachment had 
just left its ground and was moving off; the enemy doing the like, met the 
patrole ; we're pursued, and escaped by the passage which the foragers had 
just left open. One only was taken, being pursued into a bog, which the Huz- 
zars attempted in vain to cross, and were much mortified to see above a dozen 
of the enemy, who had passed round it in safety, within a few yards ; they 
consisted of all the field officers and committee-men of the district. The 
prisoner was their adjutant. The enemy, who were assembled at Cohan- 
sey, might easily have been surprised ; but Colonel Mawhood judged, that 
having completed his forage with such success, his business was to return, 
which he effected. The troops embarked without any accident, and sailed 
for Philadelphia. 

54 



426 



SALEM COUNTY. 



LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK. 

The extreme length of this township is about 13 m., with an 
average width of 6 m. It is bounded N. by Upper Alloways Creek, 
E. by Stow Creek and Greenwich, Cumberland co., S. by the Dela- 
ware, and W. by Elsinborough. A great portion of the township 
is marsh. Pop. in 1830, 1,222; in 1840, 1,252. 

Canton, 9 miles from Salem, contains 2 stores, a Baptist church, 
and about 30 dwellings. Hancock's Bridge, upon Alloways creek, 
5 miles S. of Salem, has about 40 dwellings, and a Friends meeting- 
house. This society first built a house of worship in 1085. The 
leading men of the association were Richard Hancock, John Denn, 
Jeremiah Powell, Nathaniel Chamney, &c. A Presbyterian church, 
now extinct, was founded at Logtown in 1750. The families were 
Moore, Sayre, Woodruff, Grier, Padget, Wood, &c. 




View of an Ancient Dwelling at Hancock's Bridge. 

The above is a view of an antiquated brick dwelling, standing 
in the village, a few rods from the bridge over the creek, and known 
as Baker's tavern. In 1778, when the British were in this county, 
a party of them surprised, at night, a small body of Americans in 
this house, who had been stationed there to guard the bridge. The 
account given by Major Simcoe, who commanded the enemy, is 
given on p. 424 of this volume. The following is from Johnson's 
History of Salem : — 

Massacre at Hancock's Bridge. — That night, the murdering party being selected, went, 
as directed, in boats, down Salem creek to the river — thence to Alloways creek — thence 
up the same to a suitable distance from Hancock's Bridge, where they were to land, and 
being favored by the darkness of the night, were to attack the picket in the house in 
which they were stationed as their head-quarters, and put ever}' man to death they found 
there. In that house, the property of Judge Hancock, were he, Charles Fogg, a very 

aged man, Joseph Thompson, and Bacon, all Quakers ; a few others besida the 

guard, composed of a full company of men, were those persons in that house on that ill- 
fated night, all wrapt in sleep, worn down, with watching, nature exhausted, and many 
of them doomed to sleep the long sleep of death. The hellish mandate was issued at 
head-quarters — " Go — spare no one — put all to death — give no quarters." These refu- 
gees, only to be associated with their brethren, the imps of the infernal regions, did their 
best, and glutted their worse than savage passions in the innocent blood of their unof- 
fending neighbors. They killed and desperately mangled, with fiendish ferocity, such 



SALEM COUNTY. 42? 

whom they saw writhing under the severity of their wounds, and thus destroyed more 
than two thirds of all who were within that house. 

It was currently reported, and that report believed to be true, that a negro man, who 
went by the name of Nicholson's Frank, and a man from Gloucester co., called Jonathan 
Ballanger, were the two persons who attended this murdering expedition as pilots. 

Ballanger came to the house of John Steward, (a farmer, near Hancock's Bridge,) 
armed, that very same night, some time before day. Steward said, " that he soon dis- 
covered, from the looks and conversation of Ballanger, that some evil was about to be 
done." With some persuasion, he prevailed upon him to go into the room and lie down. 
When he went in, he turned the key in the door, nor did he open it until about daylight 
in the morning. When Ballanger came out of the room he stayed but a few minutes, and 
went away, carrying with him his musket. " A short time after lie had left the house, 
the report of a gun was heard in the direction in which Ballanger had walked, and by 
the side of the fence along which he had gone but a few minutes before, was found Reu- 
ben Sayres, mortally wounded, being a distance of not more than one-fourth of a mile 
from Steward's house." 

Ballanger was not seen by any person after he left Steward's, until several years after- 
ward. The suspicion of the murder of Sayres could be fixed upon no one but him. Im- 
mediately after the massacre of the picket and private citizens, the refugees returned to 
Salem over the bridge, the draw of which they laid. Ballanger and the negro, no doubt, 
returned by water with the boatmen. It could have been none of the refugees who were 
at Hancock's. The circumstantial evidence against Ballanger was most assuredly of the 
very strongest kind, amounting pretty near to positive. Public opinion was decidedly 
against him, fur he was known to be a rank tory, and from the very hotbed of toryism — 
of those who secretly traded with the British while they occupied Philadelphia. It was 
but a short mile from Hancock's Bridge to where Sayres was found weltering in his 
blood ; he had escaped thus far towards the woods or marshes, in his flight from the 
murdering refugees. Not a single individual of the enemy was seen anywhere near to 
the field where Sayres was found. The murderer was always believed to be none other 
than Jonathan Ballanger.* 

A few names of some of those desperate villains, the refugees, which I here mention, 
ought never to be forgotten. One fellow, who usually bore the name of Proud Harry, a 
plasterer by trade, an insolent, swaggering scoundrel, a braggadocio ; another, by name 
Jo. Daniels ; another, if possible, worse than Satan himself, — his name was John Hanks. 
This fellow was brought up from a boy in the family of Morris Beesley. The son of 
Morris, whose name was Walker, belonged to that company of militia. Hanks, with 
another villain, rushed upon young Beesley to kill him. He begged of Hanks, in the 
most pitiable manner, to protect him, and spare his life ; he urged upon him their friend- 
ship and intimacy ; their having grown up from boys together. All his entreaties were 
in vain ; the murderer heard his pleas, and then very sternly told him, that for their 
former intimacy alone he was determined to kill him, and then stabbed him and left him. 
The poor youth lived long enough to tell this tale of wo to those people who came to take 
care of the dead and wounded. 

Another instance I will mention, of a militia-man whose name was Darius Dailey, 
who, escaping from the house, was pursued by two of the refugees ; while running, he 
saw an English soldier; he made towards him as fast as he could, calling out to him at 
the same time to save him ; crying out, " Oh, save me, save me, soldier — I am your 
countryman ! Save me, save me — I am a Scotchman — I am your countryman !" The 
very name of countryman, even coming from the mouth of an enemy, and in the midst 
of slaughter, struck the tender fibres of the stern soldier's heart. He immediately put 
himself in an attitude of defence, and stopped the pursuing refugees, and told them that 
he should protect the man at all hazards — that he had surrendered himself to him, and 
that he was his prisoner. When his flurry had in some measure subsided, Dailey gave 

* The following amusing anecdote was communicated to the compilers by Thomas 
Gordon, Esq., of Trenton : — Some years after this, a son of Sayres, master of a small 
vessel navigating the Delaware river, in bringing his vessel up to a wharf below Phila- 
delphia, in a very dark evening, being a little intoxicated, accidentally fell overboard, but 
was humanely rescued by a person who happened to be on the wharf. As soon as he had 
sufficiently recovered, he discovered in the face of his deliverer a son of Ballanger, the 
murderer of his father. He swore he would not owe his life to such a d — d rascal, im- 
mediately threw himself into the river, and it was with no little difficulty and risk that 
his life was, a second time, saved from a watery grave. 



428 SALEM COUNTY. 

his name to the soldier — the soldier his name to Dailey. They were both almost struck 
speechless with astonishment ; they now found that they had been bosom friends and 
schoolmates together, when boys, in Scotland. Dailey was conducted a prisoner, with a 
few others, to Salem, whose lives had been spared by the English soldiers. 

The names of the officers of that unfortunate company of militia, who were so dread- 
fully cut to pieces on that dreadful night, were Carleton Sheppard, captain — Benjamin 
Curlis, 1st lieutenant — Andrew Lowder, 2d lieutenant — William Bresbey, ensign. 



ELSINBOROUGH. 

This is the smallest township in the county, being but 7 m. long, 
and 3 m. wide. It is bounded N. by Salem and Lower Penn's 
Neck, S. and E. by Lower Alloway's Creek, and W. by the Dela- 
ware. It has 2 schools, 85 scholars. Pop. 526. 

A fort was anciently erected by the Swedish governor, Printz, at 
Fort Point, on the eastern bank of Salem river, near its mouth, 
somewhere between the years 1642 and 1652. This fortress was 
called by them Helsingborg, from which the name of the township 
is derived. The Indian name of the place was Wootsessungsing. 
The fortification commanded the Delaware, and enabled the Swedes 
to compel the Dutch to strike the flag from the masts of their ves- 
sels. It became untenable, from the great multitude of musquitoes, 
and was nicknamed Myggenborg, or Musquito Fort. 

Col. Mawhood, the British commander, after his failure of in- 
timidating the militia of this county, in March, 1778, and chagrined 
by his want of success, sent a party of soldiers from Salem on an 
excursion into this township. They went to the farm of Col. 
Holmes, about 4 miles from Salem, drove his wife and family out 
of doors, pillaged his property, and set his dwelling on fire. This 
gentleman was a strong and influential whig, and so dreaded by 
the enemy, that Lord Howe offered £100 for him, dead or alive. 



MANNINGTON. 

Mannington was originally named East Fenwick, and afterward 
changed to its present appellation, from the Indian word Maneto. 
It has an average length of about 8 m., and an average width of 
5 m. It is bounded N. by Upper Penn's Neck and Pilesgrove, S. 
by Salem, S. and E. by Upper Alloways Creek, and W. by Lower 
Penn's Neck. In Mannington is an excellent nursery of fruit, be- 
longing to Samuel Reeve, Esq., which contains about 20,000 fruit 
trees, of every variety. The township is one of the most fertile in 
this part of the state. It has 7 schools, 169 scholars. Pop. 2,064. 

Mannington Hill is situated on a slight elevation in the central 
part of the township, and contains 6 or 8 dwellings. During the 
American revolution, a small party of the enemy, at night, broke 
into a house occupied by a Mr. Ambler in this village. The family 
consisted of the old gentleman and wife, and two girls. The party 



SALEM COUNTY. 429 

on entering, threatened to murder them if they lifted their heads 
from under the bed-clothing. After rifling the rooms of the valua- 
bles, they decamped. This dwelling has been rebuilt, and is now 
occupied by Mr. Joseph Shepard. 



UPPER PENN'S NECK. 

This is the northernmost township of the county. Its extreme 
length is about 9 m., with a width of 7 m. It is bounded NW. by the 
Delaware river, NE. by Woolwich, Gloucester co., S. by Manning- 
ton and Lower Penn's Neck, and SE. by Pilesgrove. The soil is 
light, and produces large quantities of vegetables for the Philadel- 
phia market, which is the main source of the wealth of the town- 
ship. It has H schools, IKi scholars. Pop. 1,854. 

Pedrictown, on Oldman's creek, 3 miles in a direct line from the 
Delaware river, has about 50 dwellings, a Friends meeting-house, 
and near it a Methodist church. Sculltown, originally named Lock- 
erton, from a Mr. Lock, is at the head of navigation on Oldman's 
creek, 18 miles from its mouth, and on the line of Gloucester co. It 
contains 2 stores, about 40 dwellings, and a Methodist church. It 
is a thriving village, and large quantities of lumber and grain are 
exported. Penn's Grove, a landing on the Delaware for steamers, 
is a flourishing village which has sprung into existence within a 
few years ; it contains about 25 dwellings. 



LOWER PENN'S NECK. 

This township is 8 miles long, with an average width of 3-£ miles. 
It is bounded N. by Upper Penn's Neck ; E. and S. by Salem river, 
which divides it from Mannington, Salem, and Elsinborough ; and 
S. and W. by the Delaware river. Large quantities of vegetables 
are raised for the Philadelphia market. The soil is rich, and on 
the margin of the Delaware and Salem rivers are large strips of 
meadow. On the bank of the Delaware, 7 miles NE. of Salem, is 
a small settlement called Kinseyville, where there is a ferry to 
New Castle, two miles distant, on the opposite side of the river. 
It has 5 schools, 185 scholars. Pop. 1,219. Fort Delaware is an 
island opposite this township, which was formed by the sinking 
of a New England vessel on a sand-bar. 

The Swedes built a fort at Finn's Point in this township. Fen- 
wick, among other unexecuted projects, conceived the plan of 
laying out a town at this spot, to be called " Finnstown Point." 
Lasse Hendricks, Stephen Yearnans, Matthias Spackleson, and 
Erick Yearnans were Swedes, at that* time living there, from 
whom Fenwick purchased 1,000 acres, called Pumpians Hook, 
opposite Delaware. Erick Yearnans he appointed bailiff over 
the bailiwick of West Fenwick, now Penn's Neck. Another 



430 SALEM COUNTY. 

town was to have been laid out at the cove, in Upper Penn's 
Neck, to have been named " Bout-town Finns." 

The Episcopal church in this township was originally a Swedish church of the 
Lutheran order. Abraham Lidenius was appointed the first pastor over this church 
in 1714. He returned to Sweden in 1724, and two years after Petrus Tranberg and 
Andreas Windrufwa, in 1726, divided their services between -this church and Raccoon, 
now Swedesboro. Two years later Windrufwa died, and Tranberg officiated alone until 
his death, in 1748. The same year John Sandin succeeded, and died in a few months. 
He was succeeded by John Lidenius, the son of the first pastor. In 1759 Andreas 
Borell was sent from Sweden as Provost of the American Swedish churches. John 
Wicksell officiated from 1763 to about 1764, when he returned to Sweden. His sue. 
cessor, the venerable Nicholas Collin, D. D., was the last of the Swedish ministers, and 
officiated until about the close of the American revolution. He was succeeded by 
Samuel Grey, and he by the Rev. Mr. Higby. In 1789, under the Rev. John Wade, a 
vestry was chosen, and the church organized as a Protestant Episcopal church. In 
1808 the present substantial brick church was erected in place of a wooden one fast de- 
caying. 

Like the Swedish churches in America, this mission was supported by the Swedish 
king, and a glebe attached to each station. The glebe attached to this church was a 
farm in Pdes Grove. The following is a list of the Swedes dwelling in Penn's Xeck 
previous to 1680, who, it is supposed, belonged to this church : Erickson Yearneans, 
two brothers Hendricks, Spackleson, Nielson, Giljeanson, Cornelius, Pederson, Oulson, 
Senexson, Picters, Jacquette, Wooleyson, Barkleson, Jacobson. 

The Presbyterian church of Penn's Xeck was founded about 1748. In 1778 the 
Rev. Samuel Eakin, the first minister of whom we have any record, took charge. The 
families composing the congregation were the Nevils, Philpots, Lippincotts, Lambsons, 
Dunns, Wrights, Stanleys, Burdens, Healys, Congletons, and others. 

Eakin continued until the close of the American revolution. They were then occa- 
sionally supplied until the Rev. Nathaniel Harris took the oversight in 1797, who con- 
tinued until he removed to Trenton, in 1800. He was succeeded by the Rev. David 
Edwards, who remained until 1805. Since then the meeting-house has gone to decay. 
There is a Methodist church in the townsliip. 

The Rev. Samuel Eakin, the pastor of the Presbyterian church 
in the American revolution, was an extraordinary man, and con- 
sidered scarcely inferior to the celebrated Whitefield. He was a 
strong whig, and the idol of the soldiers. Wherever there were 
military trainings, or an order issued for the soldiers to march, he 
was, if in his power, always there to address them, and by his elo- 
quence would excite their emotions of patriotism to the highest 
pitch. 



PILESGROVE. 

This township derived its name from James Piles, anciently a 
lar?e landholder here. It is 8 miles long, 5 broad, and is bounded 
NE. by Woolwich. Gloucester co. ; SW. by Mannington, and Upper 
Alloways creek ; SE. by Pittsgrove, and NW. by Upper Penn's 
Neck. The surface is level, and soil clay and loam, and produc- 
tive in wheat, rye, oats, and corn. Pop. in 1830, 2,150 ; in 1840, 
2,477. 

Woodstown derives its name from Jackanias Wood, an early 
settler. It is on the north bank of Salem river, 9 miles iVE. of 
Salem. It contains about 100 dwellings, 6 stores. 2 Friends meet- 
ing-houses, 1 Baptist. 1 Methodist, and 1 African Methodist church. 
The lands in this region have been much improved within the last 



SALEM COUNTY. 



431 



12 years by the use of marl, which abounds here. In the marl-pits, 
near the village, sharks' teeth and the bones of the fossil crocodile 
are found. The public building shown on the left of the engraving 
is the Friends' meeting-house, a substantial brick edifice. The 
large tree in the road, fronting the dwelling beyond, now going to 
decav, was standing in the American revolution. According to 




Central View in Woodstown. 

tradition, a party of British soldiers once stacked their arms against 
its trunk. The township was principally settled by Friends. In 
1726 a meeting was established at Woodstown by David Davis, 
and others. Sharptown, on Salem river, 2\ miles west of Woods- 
town, has a Methodist cjiurch and about 50 dwellings. Eldridge's 
Hill, 1 mile NE. of Woodstown, contains a few dwellings. 



PITTSGROVE. 

This township was formed from Pilesgrove, and named after Sir 
William Pitt. It is 12 miles long, 6| broad; and is bounded N. 
by Franklin and Woolwich, (Gloucester co.,) S. by Deerfield, (Cum- 
berland co.,) and U. Alloway's creek, E. by Millville, (Cumberland 
co..) and N. by Pilesgrove. It is centrally distant from Salem 16 
miles. Large quantities of sumach-leaves are annually gathered 
in this township, dried, pulverized, and sent to market. Land for- 
merly considered nearly valueless, and thrown out in common, 
has become, within the last few years, among the best, by the use 
of marl of an excellent quality. There are in the township 6 
stores, 1 woollen fac, 5 grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; 7 schools, 270 scholars. 
Pop. 2,390. 

Pittstown, Centreville, and Daretown are small villages in this 
township. The Presbyterian church was the first established in 
the township. " It was organized 30th of April, 1741. Their pastor 




- 

432 SALEM COUNTY. 

was the Rev. David Evans, a native of Wales. The covenant 
was signed by the following members, believed to have been heads 

of families : 

\, 

Isaac Vanmeter, Francis Tully, Richard Sparks, 

~ n^ Henry Vanmeter, Jeremiah Garrison, John Craig, 

Cornelius Newkirk, Eleazer Smith, William Miller, 

Abraham Newkirk, William Alderman, Peter Haws, 

Barnet Dubois, Hugh Moore, James Dunlap, 

Lewis Dubois, John Rose, Jacob Dubois, jr. 

Nathaniel Tarbel, Simon Sparks, Joshua Garrison, 

Garrell Dubois, Thomas Sparks, Joast Miller. 
John Miller, 

The successors to the Rev. David Evans were Nehemiah Garri- 
son, William Schenck, Glassbrook, Isaac Foster, Lay- 
cock, Carll, Clark. Geo. W. Janvier." A Baptist church 

" was founded about the year 1 743, by several families, who emi- 
grated from New England : such were the Reeds, Elwells, Cheese- 
mans, Paullins, and Wallaces. The Rev. Mr. Kelsey took the over- 
sight of the congregation. After Mr. Kelsey left, Mr. Sutton, and 
other ministers, afforded occasional supplies. Rev. William Worth 
then took the charge, and the congregation increased considerably 
under his ministration, until he became deeply engaged in land 
speculations, in the back country ; and, the opinion becoming cur- 
rent that he had become tinctured with Universalism, the congre- 
gation dwindled away almost to nothing. The constituents were 
John Mayhew, Esq., Jacob Elwell, John Dickinson, Cornelius Aus- 
tin, Samuel Brick, and their families." 




SALEM. 

Salem, the seat of justice for the county, is on the east bank of 
Salem river, 3} miles from its mouth, 65 miles S. of Trenton, and 
34 SE. of Philadelphia. The township is level, in form nearly cir- 
cular, and about 2 miles in diameter. It is bounded on the N. and 
E. by Mannington, S. by Elsinborough, and W. by Elsinborough 
and Lower Penn's Neck. 

On the right of the engraving is the jail, a plain stuccoed build- 
ing. The brick edifice, with a cupola, is the courthouse ; and the 
small building, partially seen in the distance, is the clerk's office. 
There are 8 houses for divine worship in the town, viz : 2 Friends, 
1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, and 2 African 
Methodist. A large Gothic structure, formerly used as a masonic 
hall, stands in the central part of the village. There are also in 
the town the Salem Bank, a market, 2 fire-engines, 2 public libra- 
ries, a lyceum, an academy, a newspaper printing-office, 17 stores, 
3 hotels, and about 250 dwellings. Population, in 1830, was 1,570 ; 
in 1840, 2,006. Salem is well built, the houses neat, the streets 



SALEM COUNTY. 



433 



beautified with trees, and its general appearance thriving and 
pleasant. Considerable business is done here, and a daily commu- 
nication had, by steamers and stages, with Philadelphia. 




View of the County Buildings, Salem. 

Although the first successful settlement made in the state, by the 
English, was in Elizabethtown, in 1665, yet the first attempt at 
settlement by them was made in this vicinity. In 1641, some Eng- 
lish families, (probably emigrants from New Haven, Conn.,) em- 
bracing about 60 persons, settled on Ferken's creek, (now Salem.) 
About this period, the Swedes bought of the Indians the whole dis- 
trict from Cape May to Raccoon creek ; and, in order to unite these 
English with the Swedes, the Swedish governor, Printz, who ar- 
rived from Sweden the year after, (1642,) was to "act kindly and 
faithfully toward them ; and as these English expected soon, by 
further arrivals, to increase their numbers to several hundreds, and 
seemed also willing to be subjects of the Swedish government, he was 
to receive them under allegiance, though not without endeavoring 
to effect their removal." In 1654, the Swedes were compelled to 
yield their possessions on the Delaware to the Dutch, and they in turn 
submitted to the English, soon after the reduction of New Amster- 
dam, (New York,) in 1664. 

In 1664, the Duke of York conveyed to John, Lord Berkeley, and 
Sir George Carteret, the province of New Jersey. The claim of 
Lord Berkeley was then an undivided half, subsequently known as 
West Jersey; which was, in 1673, purchased for £1,000, by John 
Fenwick and Edward Byllinge, members of the society of Friends. 
The conveyance was executed to Fenwick, in trust for Byllinge. 
This tract was afterward divided into 100 parts, called tenths; nine 
of which belonged to the latter, and one to the former. 

"In 1675," says Smith, "Fenwick set sail to visit the new pur- 
chase, in a ship, from London, called the Griffith. Arriving after 
a good passage, he landed at a pleasant, rich spot, situate near 

55 



434 SALEM COUNTY. 

Delaware, by him called Salem ; probably from the peaceable as- 
pect it then bore." " He brought over with him three daughters, 
Elizabeth, Anna, and Priscilla ; also John Adams, the husband to 
Elizabeth, with three children, Elizabeth, Fenwick, and Mary. 
Also Edward Chamneys, the husband of Priscilla, with two chil- 
dren, John and Mary ; with his ten servants, viz : Robert Turner, 
Gervas Bywater, William Wilkinson, Joseph Worth, Michael 
Eaton, Eleanor Geere, Ruth Geere, Zachariah Geere, Sarah Hutch- 
ins, and Ann Parsons. The servants of Edward Chamneys were 
Mark Reeve, Edward Webb, and Elizabeth Waites." 

Fenwick, well knowing that it would greatly advance his interest here if he could ef. 
feet a purchase in a friendly and peaceable manner with the natives, convened their 
chiefs, and a contract was entered into with them for the sale of all their right and title 
to the lands now known by the name of Salem and Cumberland counties. 

The first purchase was for the lands included within Salem and Old-man's creeks, — 
which creeks were called by the Indians Mosacksa and Forcus. The grant to these 
lands was made by the chiefs Tospaminkey and Hcnaminkey. 

The second purchase was for all the lands lying between Forcus creek, (or, as it was 
afterward called, Game creek, or Fenwick's river, and now Salem creek,) and the Can- 
ahockink creek, now called Cohansey ; and by some of the first settlers it was called 
Cohanzick, from a chief who resided on the south side thereof. This grant was from the 
chiefs whose names were Mahoppony, Allaways, Necomis and his mother Necosshehes- 
co, Myhoppony, and Shuccotery. Of all the water-courses within the county of Salem, 
only the names of six are recollected which at this day retain their primitive or Indian 
names : they are — 1st, — the Allaways ; 2d, — the Necomis, the run at the side of which 
are the marl-pits now the property of John Dickenson, Esq., near Sharptown ; 3d, — the 
Mahoppony — that branch of Pledger's creek opposite to Clayton Wistar'a house, and on 
which there was formerly a tide-mill ; 4th, — the Mackinippuck, on which Richard See- 
ley's mill stands, 2 miles NW. of Greenwich ; 5th, — the Manimuska, the branch on 
which is built the village of Port Elizabeth ; 6th, — a small branch of Morris river, called 
Menantico, situate about half way between Millville and Port Elizabeth. 

The third purchase was from the Canahockink, now Cohansey, to the Wahatquenack, 
now Morris river. The grantors were, Mahawskey, Mohut, who styles himself the king, 
Newsego, Chechenaham, Torucho, and Shacanmn. So far as information has been ob- 
tained, the tract of country included within the bounds of Old-man's creek and Morris 
river, was purchased from these chiefs for the following-described goods, viz : 4 guns, 
powder, and lead ; 10J ankers of rum, equal to about 336 gallons ; some shirts, shoes, 
and stockings ; 4 blankets ; 16 match-coats ; 1 piece of match coating, and other Eng- 
lish goods. This purchase was made in the years 1675 and '76. 

Emigrants were now arriving, and Fenwick having become the chief proprietor of this 
large tract of country, which he called Fenwick's colony, sales were rapidly made of 
large as well as small tracts of land, and so continued until his death, which took place 
between the months of August, 1683, and April, 1684. 

The following is extracted " From the First General Order, as 
agreed upon by Fenwick and the first purchasers :" 

And as for the settling of the town of New Salem, it is likewise ordered that the town 
be divided by a street ; that the SE. side be for the purchasers, who are to take their lots 
of 16 acres as they come to take them up and plant them, as they happen to join to the 
lots of the purchasers resident, who are to hold their present plantations, and all of them 
to be accounted as part of their purchases ; and the other part, on the N. and by E. and 
by S., is to be disposed of by the chief proprietor for the encouragement of trade, — he 
also giving, for the good of the town in general, the field of marsh that lieth between the 
town and Goodchild's plantation ; and, 

Lastly, we do leave all other things concerning the setting forth and surveying the said 
purchases, unto the chief proprietor, to order as he sees fit. 

Signed accordingly, the 25th day of the 4th month, 1676. Fenwick. 

Edward Wade, John Smith, Richard Noble, Saml. Nicholson, John Addams, Hypo- 
lite Lefevre, Edward Champnes, Richard Whitacar, William Malster, Robert Wade. 



SALEM COUNTY. 435 

IMPROVEMENTS AND TRADE IN THE COUNTRY. 

Tide-mills and Wind-mills. — Many of the emigrants brought out with them hand, 
mills for the purpose of grinding their grain, but the settlers soon found it essential to 
their existence to turn their attention to the immediate erection of grist and saw mills. 
Accordingly, there was a horse-mill erected for the grinding of grain, near what is now 
called Kent's corner, in the upper part of the town of Salem. Of water-mills, the first 
kind made use of were tide-mills. They were located in this now called Salem county, 
in several places, — such as at Mill creek, in Elsinborough, Mill-hollow, near Salem, Ma- 
hoppony creek, in Mannington, formerly Hill Smith's, Cooper's creek, in Beesley's Neck, 
on the south side of Allaways creek, and at Carney's point, in Upper Penn's Neck. 
There were also 3 wind-mills, — one near the old wharf in Salem, in Bradway-st., another 
at Kinseyville, in Penn's Neck, and the third on the farm of Samuel L.James, Esq. The 
first saw-mill was erected by William Hampton, in the year 1682. 

Salem a Port of Entry. — Salem, about the year 1682, by the increase of population, 
had, by this time, become a place of some foreign trade, — so much so, that it was made 
a port of entry for vessels entering and clearing therefrom, by exacting from all vessels 
under 100 tons, one shilling for entering and one shilling for clearing, and all vessels of 
more than 100 tons, double that amount. 

Market. — The same year, a weekly market was by law to be held on every Tuesday, 
near what we now call the old wharf, then called the tower landing, and which had been 
heretofore designated for the market-place. The grain, provisions, and other articles 
brought into the town, must be carried there, and no sale take place before 11 o'clock ; 
and should any person buy any goods or provisions before that hour, any informer caus- 
ing the offender to be convicted of the offence, would receive the half, and the other half 
go for the public use. 

Fairs. — Fairs were established by law, to be held in Salem on the 1st and 2d May, 
and the 20th and 21st October, annually, at which all persons were at liberty to buy and 
sell all manner of lawful goods, wares, and merchandise, and also were to be free from. 
arrest for the two fair days, and for two days before and two days after the fair. But 
after some time this privilege came to be abused, — so much so, that a town meeting was 
hfild on the 15th April, 1698 : " It being then taken into consideration, that since fairs 
have been held in this town, that foreigners do flock from other parts, — not only of this 
county, but of the neighboring province, — do sell liquor by retail during the time of such 
fairs, thereby encroaching upon the privilege of the inhabitants of this town, who "only 
are authorized, and none else, to sell by retail as aforesaid : 

" Be it therefore enacted, that no person or persons, from and after the date hereof, do 
presume to sell liquors by retail during the time of the fairs, so held or to be holden, — 
either at the place of the fairs, or within the limits thereof, — but the inhabitants of this 
town only. And that whosoever persons presuming, contrary to this act, to sell liquors 
as aforesaid, shall, upon information, be found guilty of the said breach, — shall forfeit 
all liquors found in his custody at the said place of fair, or anywhere within the limits of 
this town or creek, to be seized by virtue of a warrant from the burgess of this town ; 
whereof one half of the said goods is to be allowed to the informer, and the other half to 
the burgess. 

" Signed, with consent of the meeting, nemine contradicente. 

" Wm. Hall, Burgess." 

Salem Incorporated. — In 1695, the town of Salem became incorporated, and the office 
of burgess was created, by which that officer was clothed with authority to hear and de- 
termine causes under 40 shillings, — was empowered to grant tavern licenses, and revoke 
them as he might see fit, — and to punish all persons who might be convicted before him 
of rudeness, profaneness, and vicious practices. The office of burgess was continued 
from 1693 to 1703. In the month of March, 1693, the officers first chosen under their 
act of incorporation, were John Worledge, burgess, Benjamin Acton, recorder, John Jef- 
fery, bailiff, Richard Johnson, surveyor of the streets, bridges, and banks. All freehold- 
ers were required to be punctual in their attendance at all their meetings. Absentees 
were fined from ten pence up to five shillings. 

There were five burgesses during the proprietary government of ten years, whose 
names were — John Worledge, Jonathan Beere, Wm. Hall, Richard Johnson, and Tho- 
mas Killingsworth. 

Act passed May 12, 1696. — An act to qualify officers icho are not free to take an 
oath. — Whereas some persons, out of a principle of conscience, have not freedom to 
take oaths : Be it enacted by the Governor, with advice of his Council, and consent and 
agreement of the representatives in this present Assembly, met and assembled, and it 



436 SALEM COUNTY. 

is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That their not having freedom to take 
oaths shall not disable or incapacitate them for want thereof to hold or enjoy any office 
of the government within this province, whether magisterial or ministerial, to which he 
or they are duly elected, nor exclude him or them from any right or privilege which any 
of his majesty's subjects are capable to enjoy, he or they signing the declaration of fide- 
lity, and profession of the Christian faith, following, to wit : 

By virtue and in obedience to the said act of Assembly, we, whose names are sub- 
scribed, do sincerely promise and solemnly declare, that we will be true and faithful to 
William, King of England, and the government of this province of West Jersey. And 
we do solemnly profess and declare, that we do from our hearts abhor, detest and re- 
nounce, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine, that princes excommunicated 
or deprived by the Pope, or any authority of the see of Rome, may be deposed or mur- 
thered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever ; and we do declare that no foreign 
prince, prelate, state or potentate, hath or ought to have any power, jurisdiction, supe- 
riority, pre-eminence or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm. 

The Christian Belief. — We profess faith in Cod the Father, and in Jesus Christ his 
eternal Son, the true Cod, and in the Holy Spirit, one Cod blessed forevermorc. And 
we do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, to be given 
by divine inspiration. 

Here follow the names of the officers of the town of Salem, who subscribed the above 
faith or creed. 

Justices. 
Jonathan Beere, 1697 Reyneer Van Hyst, 1700 John Bacon, 1703 

Richard Darking, 1698 John Holmes, Thomas Woodruff, 1706 

Obadiah Holmes, 1699 William Rumsey, 1702 

Burgesses. 
William Hall, 1697 Richard Johnson, 1699 Saml. Hedge, Jr., 1703 

Jonathan Beere, 1698 Jept. Woodruff, 1700 Thos. Killingsworth, 1706 

Wm. Hall, Recorder. Hugh Middleton, Sheriff, Saml. Hedge, Clerk and Coroner. 

Saml. Hedge, Recorder, 1702. 

1697. — Fairs were established at Cohansey, and to be held thereon the 24th and 25th 
April, and 16th or 17th Obtober, with the same privileges as Salem. 

Visits and refreshments. — In those very early days, neighbors usually paid friendly 
visits to each other, with a portion of their family, more generally in the winter than at 
other seasons of the year. They commonly spent a few hours of the afternoon and a 
part of the evening together, in the most sociable manner; and while the men would be 
talking over their farming affairs, and discussing the market value of the articles they 
had for sale, their wives and daughters would not be sitting in silence, but chattering 
freely about their yards of homespun linen and linsey woolsey, while their nimble fingers 
gave rapid motion to their knitting needles ; for be it known, that in those early times 
it would have been considered a stigma in a woman to have been sitting idle, while all 
the rest were employed in knitting. That kind of innocent and rural amusement af- 
forded the most perfect zest to their evening's gratification ; and instead of tea, coffee 
and chocolate, as the fashion is now-a-days for our usual refreshment, they were regaled 
with plenty of good dough-nuts, cheese, fine cider, or home-made beer. 



Annexed are the histories of the religious denominations at Sa- 
lem, from Johnson's History. 

Friends at Salem. — Shortly after Fenwick, and those who were of that denomination 
called Friends, had arrived from England, (which was on or about the 12th December, 
1675,) and had settled themselves and their families, they resolved to associate together, 
and organize a meeting to be held in the town of Salem, twice in every week, for divine 
worship, and also once in each month for church discipline. Among those associators 
were John Fenwick, Robert Zane, Saml. Nicholson, Edward Wade, Samuel Hedge, 
John Thompson, John Smith, and Richard Guy. During the first five years of their 
residence, they held their religious meetings in private houses. In 1680, they purchased 
a house of Samuel Nicholson, and had it fitted up for their better accommodation. In 
1700, they erected a brick house on that lot now their burying-ground, at a cost of 
£415 13s. 24<Z. 

In 1772, the Friends found themselves under the necessity of providing more amply 



SALEM COUNTY. 437 

for their accommodation, and purchased a lot of land fronting on Fenwick street, and 
opposite to South street, on which they erected the present commodious and extensive 
brick, building. The architect was William Ellis. 

Methodist Episcopal church in Salem. — This church was consecrated in 1784. The 
constituents were, Henry Firth, Cornelius Mulford, Hugh Smith, John M'Claskey, Ben- 
jamin Abbot, Isaac Vaneman, John Murphey, Levi Garrison. 

Salem Protestant Episcopal church. — I cannot say at what precise time the Episco- 
pal church at Salem was instituted, but I have reason to think that worship of that 
order was held there in a wooden building, a considerable time before the brick building 
was erected, which was about the year 1720. I am inclined to believe that Doctor 
Dyer, Doctor Alexander Gaudovitt, John Kidd , and William Wetherby were members 
of the church previous to the erection of the brick building ; and after that, I am induced 
to think that the first wardens were Benjamin Veining and Joseph Coleman. There 
were other active members, such as George Frenchard, John Holbrook, John Rolph and 
others not now recollected. 

About the year 1772, the edifice being much dilapidated, and the wood-work gone to 
decay, the congregation resolved upon having it put into a complete state of repair ; ac- 
cordingly a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions to procure such a sum of 
money as might be considered sufficient to complete the work. That committee was 
composed of Edmund Wetherby, Robert Johnson, Thomas Sinnickson and John Carey, 
Esquires, who contracted with John Maxwell, the carpenter, to complete the building. 

The names of ministers who, through the lapse of years, officiated in that church 
were, as now recollected, the Rev. Messrs. Coleman, Allen, Pearson, Wixcell, Thomp- 
son, Parker, Grey, Higby, Cadle, Smith. 

Baptist church in Salem. — At the first settling in and about the town of Salem, there 
were but few Baptist families. The most prominent were those of Judges Holmes and 
Killingsworth, at whose houses their meetings were held. Killingsworth lived on and 
then owned the property now in the possession of the Keasbey family ; and Holmes 
lived at Allaways Creek, on the farm some years ago belonging to the late Stephen 
Willis, but now the property of George Hall. After the death of Holmes and Killings- 
worth, meetings were held by ministers from Cohansey, at the house of Samuel Fogg, 
near Quinton's bridge — at Daniel Smith's, Edward Quinton's, and Abner Sims'. In. 
1743, the Baptist meeting-house was built at Mill-hollow, and in 1757 the church 
was constituted, and the following named persons were the constituents, to wit : Job 
Sheppard, the honorable Edward Keasbey, Esq., Edward Quinton, Samuel Sims, Daniel 
Smith, Temperance Quinton, Sarah Sims, Catharine Sheppard, Kerenhappuch Black- 
wood, Sarah Smith, Prudence Keasbey, Phebe Smith, Rachel Sneathen, and Patience 
James. The Rev. Job Sheppard then became their pastor, but lived only two years ; he 
left eleven children, — their names were Elnathan, Belbe, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Job, Da- 
niel, Katharine, Martha, Kesiah, Ruth, and Cumberland. Some of these married into 
the families of the Pedricks, Townsends, Grays, Bowens, Mulfords, Kelseys, Matlocks, 
and have helped materially to populate the township of Allaways Creek. Rev. Mr. 
Sheppard was succeeded by Rev. John Sutton, and he by Rev. Abel Griffith — he by 
William Worth, and he by Rev. Peter Peterson Vanhorn. 

The congregation having greatly increased, it was thought necessary to build a new 
house ; accordingly subscriptions were put into circulation, and that large and commo- 
dious brick building was erected on York street, in the town of Salem, in 1787 — when 
the Rev. Dr. Isaac Skillman, a graduate of Princeton college, became their pastor in 
1791, and so continued until his death. The pulpit was supplied for some time by the 
Rev. Obadiah Brewen Brown, now of Washington city — then by Rev. Thomas Brown — 
then by Rev. Horatio G. Jones — then by Rev. Joseph Sheppard. 

Judge Holmes, spoken of above, died in 1701, leaving four sons, of whom the young- 
est settled here ; his name was Benjamin ; his first wife was a Smart, his second wife 
an Elgar, by whom he had six children ; and from them descended several children, and 
from thern the name has been perpetuated to the present time. 



Extracts from the County Records. 

The first court of sessions began at Salem on 17th day of September, 170G. 

Sept. 1609. — Court orders, that no ordinary keeper in this county shall be allowed to 
trust any transient person, or laborer, or single person, above ten shillings, upon penalty 
of losing their debts. Grand Jury present that an assessment be laid on the county, for 



438 SALEM COUNTY. 

repairing courthouse and prison, and finding constables' staves, paying for wolf and 
panthers' heads, hawks, woodpeckers, blackbirds and crows ; the value of .£100 to be 
paid in money, wheat, butter, or cheese, at money price. 

June, 1712. Gregory Empson, attorney. Grand Jury present Edmond Morphey, 
for holding John Quinton under the water until almost drowned ; fined 5s. with costs. 

December, 1713. Timothy Brooks, of Cohan sey, Anabaptist preacher, came into 
court and took the oaths, and signed the declaration according to law, and did acknow- 
ledge and did allow of the thirty-nine articles excepted in an act for exempting her ma- 
jesty's Protestant subjects, dissenting from the Church of England, from the penalties 
of certain laws made in their majesties' reign, May 24, 1689. 

September, 1713. The grand jury present Eliza Windsor, with force and arms upon 
the body of Elizabeth Rumsey, wife of Isaac Rumsey, of Salem, in the peace of God 
and our said lady the queen, then and there being, an assault did make, and her with a 
paddle over the head did strike, and also over the neck, and her collar bone did break, 
to the great damage of the said Elizabeth Rumsey, &c. 

Nov. 17, 1716. Mary Hawk, of Cohansey, spinster, was publicly whipped in the 
town of Salem, by order of the justices. 

1727. By order of court, the whipper's fees for whipping at the public whipping- 
post, be five shillings — in the house of correction, two shillings and sixpence. 

1729. Ruled and ordered by the court, that each respective public house keeper within 
this county, take for their several measures of liquors hereafter named as followeth, and 
no more, viz. : For each nib of punch, made with double-refined sugar and one gill and 
a half of rum, ninepence — for each nib made with single-refined sugar and one gill and 
a half of rum, eightpence — for each nib made of Muscovado sugar and one gill and a 
half of rum, sevenpence — for each quart of tiff, made with half a pint of rum in the 
same, ninepence — for each pint of wine, one shilling — for each gill of rum, threepence — 
for each quart of strong beer, fourpence — for each gill of brandy or cordial, dram, six- 
pence — for each quart of metheglin, ninepence — each quart cider royal, eightpence — 
each quart of cider, fourpence, 

Eatables for men — for a hot dinner, eightpence ; for breakfast or supper, sixpence. 

For horses — 2 quarts oats, threepence ; stabling and good hay, each night, sixpence ; 
pasture, sixpence. 

Dec. Court, 1717. Ordered by the court, that the garret or upper part of the jail be 
for the use of a house of correction for the use of said county, and a whipping-post be 
erected therein. 

1718 Upon application of Richard Johnson, that Thomas Hill had lodged in his 
hands, being a magistrate, a remnant of silk, quantity 5£ yards, which the said Thom- 
as secured with a certain person to him unknown, upon suspicion of the said person be- 
ing a pirate, which person afterwards made his escape from the said Thomas — 

Ordered, That the piece of silk in the hands of Richard Johnson, late sheriff, be de- 
livered to John Rolph, Esq., collector of his majesty's custom, to be by him disposed of 
for his majesty's use. 



February, 1733-4. Ordered by the court, that Mary Kelly, for abusing the judge, 
Mr. Acton, in her misbehavior to him in the execution of his office, do receive ten 
lashes on her bare back, for her contempt, at the public whipping-post. 



In the revolutionary struggle, the inhabitants* of this section took 
a decided stand in favor of the whig cause. When the Bostonians 
were suffering from the oppressions of General Gage, at a meeting 
held Oct. 13th, 1774, by the inhabitants of this county, it was 
"resolved, that Grant Gibbon, Esq., who was known to be one of 
the most popular and efficient men of the county, and a patriot in 
whom the public had unbounded confidence, be the man who should 
take the burthen and trouble in soliciting relief from our people." 
Gibbon succeeded in collecting about $700, a large sum at that 
time, which was sent for the relief of the distressed of that city. 

* Among these were some of the prominent Friends. The following gentlemen, offi- 
cers of militia, belonged to this society, besides others not recollected, viz : Thomas Car- 
penter, quarter-master, Major Edward Hall, Whitten Cripps, and John Smith, Adjutant. 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 439 

As mentioned on page 416, of this volume, the enemy from Phil- 
adelphia made two incursions into this county in the war of the 
revolution. Annexed are a few facts from Johnson, additional to 
those already given, relating to their entrance into this town. 

On Sunday, the 15th March, 1778, Col. Mawhood put his picked regiment on board of 
his transports at Philadelphia, and dropped down to Billingsport, and there landed his 
men, (the transports went on to Salem, and by them the regiment returned to the city,) 
and then marched up to the Salem road at Mantua creek bridge, (the only place where he 
could cross the creek,) where he was opposed on Monday, the 16th of March, by Capt. 
Samuel Hugg, with his artillery, and other of our militia ; the names of several from our 
county now recollected, were, Parker, Barrett, David Wctherington, John Cams, and the 
venerable James Johnson, who died but a few years ago. In that skirmish two or three 
of the enemy were killed. 

Our people then retreated, until they came to the farm now the property of Mr. Ton- 
kins, where they halted, and cannonaded the enemy. That estate then belonged to Dr. 
Otto, who was a colonel. The British burnt all his property during the fight, and, as a 
monument to that skirmish, there stood but a few years ago a large black oak tree in the 
middle of the road, and nearly opposite to the house of Tonkins, with the marks of the 
cannon shot visible upon it. Our people being overpowered by numbers, filed of? from 
the main road, and gave up the contest. 

After the fight at Doctor Otto's, the enemy came down and encamped for the night 
near Sharptown, and came into Salem early in the forenoon. 

Slavery. — There is reason to suppose there were slaves in the families of the early 
Swedish settlers in this county. And there is no doubt the Dutch imported and sold 
them wherever they could find purchasers. After the English came, considerable num. 
bers were imported from the West Indies, and disposed as merchandise to the agricul- 
turists. " As early as 1696, the Friends in their yearly meetings brought the subject of 
trading in negroes before their society, and to their credit it is believed, were the first re- 
ligious sect that advised its members to desist from and discourage the future importa 
tion of them. From about that time the traffic in slaves became the subject of notice '. 
in their annual meetings, until about the year 1758, when they passed a resolution de- I 
nying the right of membership to any of their people who should persist in detaining a 
fellow-creature in bondage after that time ; but the resolution was not strictly complied 
with until many years afterward." 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 

Somerset, the most central county in the state, was early settled 
by the Dutch, and set off from Middlesex co., in 1688. In the pre- 
amble to the act, it was stated : " Forasmuch as the uppermost 
part of the Raritan river is settled by persons whom, in their hus- 
bandry and manuring their land, forced upon quite different ways 
and methods from the other farmers and inhabitants of Middlesex, 
because of the frequent floods that carry away their fences on the 
meadows, the only arable land they have, and so by consequence 
of their interest is divided from the other inhabitants of the said 
county : Be it therefore enacted, &c." Its bounds have been al- 
tered at different times, and in 1838, by the formation of Mercer 
co., when the S. portion of Nottingham township was annexed to 
that county. Somerset co. is about 25 m. long, with an average 



440 - SOMERSET COUXTY. 

breadth of about 15 m.. and is bounded N. by Morris eo.. E. by 
Bss •: and Middlesex. S. by Mercer eo.. and W. by Hunterdon co. 
It is well watered by the Raritan and its branches. The Delaware 
and Raritan canal enters at its SE. corner, and following up the 
vallev of the Millstone river to its junction with the Raritan. there 
pursues the valley of that river to New Brunswick. The surface of 
the county is diversified : the central and SE. portion tolerably level, 
the S. and SW. hilly, and the XE. quite mountainous. The soil of 
the hills is mostly clay and stirf loam, the plains sandy loam, and 
the mountain valleys limestone. The county is generally fertile, 
particularly in the valleys, and produces a variety of crops. It is 
divided into the following seven townships : — 

Bedminster. Bernard. Bridgewater, Franklin. 

Hillsborough. Montgomery. "Warren. 

Somerset co. had in 1S10. a population of 14.7QS : in 1820, 
1&508: in 1830, 17,689: in 1840. 17,451. 



BEDMINSTER. 

This township is about 7 m. long, by 4 m. wide, and is bounded 
X. by r and Mendham, Morris co., E. by Bernard. S. and 

SW. by Bridgewater. andW. byReadington and Tewksbury. Hun- 
terdon co. There are in the township 5 saw-m., 6 grist-m., 9 
schools. 254 scholars. Pop. 1.'- 

It is well watered by the N. branch of Raritan. Lamington river, 
and their tributaries. Its surface is hilly, soil fertile, and well- 
cultivated. Lamington. Pepack, Little Cross Roads, and Greater 
.re small settlements, neither of which contains over 
12 or 15 dwellings. At the first is a Presbyterian, and near the 
i Reformed Dutch church. 

Pluckamin. in the S. part of the township, 6 m. NW. of Somer- 
ville, lies at the base of a high mountain, from the summit of which 
is a very extensive view of a large extent of fertile country. There 
are here, a tavern, 2 stores, a :al mechanics, an academy, a 
Methodist church, and 35 dwellings. This was a noted place in 
the war of the revolution. On the 4th of Jan.. 1777. the day after 
the battle of Princeton, the American army, then on their march 
to Morristown. halted here. In the winter of 177S-9. part of the 
American army lay at this place. 

In the village burying-ground is the grave of the gallant Capt. 
Leslie, of the British army, who fell mortally wounded at the bat- 
tle of Princeton. The particulars of the death of this unfortunate 
officer, are thus given in the Cnstis's Recollections of the Life of 
-hington: — 

is while the commander-in-chief reined up his horse upon approaching the spot 
in a : .rre h.y the grallant CoL Harslet mortally wounded, that he per- 

i wounded officer, and upon inquiring his name 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



441 



and rank, was answered Capt. Leslie. Dr. Benjamin Rush, who formed a part of the 
general's suite, earnestly asked, "A son of the Earl of Leven ?" to which the soldiera 
replied in the affirmative. The doctor then addressed the general-in-chief : " I beg your 
excellency to permit this wounded officer to be placed under my care, that I may return, 
in however small a degree, a part of the obligations I owe to his worthy father for the 
many kindnesses received at his hands while I was a student at Edinburgh." The re- 
quest was immediately granted; but, alas ! poor Leslie was soon "past all surgery." 
He died the same evening, after receiving every possible kindness and attention, and was 
buried the next day at Pluckamin, with the honors of war. His troops, as they lowered 
his remains to the soldier's last rest, shed tears over the remains of a much-loved com- 
mander. 

A plain monument marks the spot, bearing the following in- 
scription : — 



In Memory of the 

Hon. Capt. WILLIAM LESLIE, 

of the 17th British Regiment, 

son of the Earl of Leven, 

in Scotland. 

He fell January 3d, 1777, aged 

26 years, at the Battle of 

PRINCETON. 

His friend, Benj. Rush, M. D., of 

Philadelphia, 

hath caused this stone 

to be erected, as a mark 

of his esteem for his 

worth, and respect for 

his noble family. 



Two days after the battle, Gen. Washington (says Wilkinson, in 
his Memoirs) sent his aid, Col. Fitzgerald, into the British camp 
with a flag of truce. He was courteously received, and introduced 
to the principal officers. The recital of Capt. Leslie's death, and 
the respect with which his body had been treated, affected one of 
the British generals so sensibly, that he retired to a window and 
shed tears ; and when Col. Fitzgerald returned, he sent his acknow- 
ledgments to Washington. 



The annexed account of the celebration at this place, Feb. 18th, 
1779, of the anniversary of the alliance with France, was published 
at the time : 

The anniversary of our alliance with France was celebrated on the 18th ultimo, at 
Pluckemin, at a very elegant entertainment and display of fireworks, given by General 
Knox, and the officers of the corps of artillery. It was postponed to this late day on ac- 
count of his Excellency General Washington's absence from camp. General Washing- 
ton, the principal officers of the army, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Knox, and 
the ladies and gentlemen, for a large circuit around the camp, were of the company. 
Besides these, there was a vast concourse of spectators from every part of the Jerseys. 

The barracks of the artillery are at a small distance from Pluckemin, on a piece of 
rising ground, which shows them to great advantage. The entertainment and ball were 
held at the academy of the Park. About four o'clock in the afternoon, the celebration 

56 



442 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

of the ALLIANCE was announced by the discharge of thirteen cannon, when the com- 
pany assembled in the academy to a very elegant dinner. The room was spacious, and 
the tables very prettily disposed, both as to prospect and convenience. The festivity was 
universal, and the toasts descriptive of the happy event, which had given certainty to our 
liberties, empire, and independence. In the evening was exhibited a very fine set of fire- 
works, conducted by Col. Stevens, arranged on the point of a temple, one hundred feet 
in length, and proportionally high. The temple showed thirteen arches, each display- 
ing an illuminated painting. The centre arch was ornamented with a pediment, larger 
than any of the others ; and the whole edifice supported by a colonnade of the Corinthian 
order. 

The illuminated paintings were disposed in the following order : 

The 1st arch, on the right, represented the commencement of hostilities at Lexington, 
with this inscription : — " The scene opened." 

2d, British clemency. Represented in the burning of Charlestown, Falmouth, Nor- 
folk, and Kingston. 

3d, The separation of America from Britain. A magnificent arch broken in the centre, 
with this motto : " By your tyranny to the people of America you have separated the 
wide arch of an extended empire." 

4th, Britain represented as a decaying empire, by a barren country, broken arches, 
fallen spires, ships deserting its shores, birds of prey hovering over its mouldering cities, 
and a gloomy setting sun. Motto : 

" The Babylonian spires are sunk, 
Achaia, Rome, and Egypt mouldered down ; 
Time shakes the stable tyranny of thrones, 
And tottering empires crush by their own weight." 

5th, America represented as a rising empire. Prospect of a fertile country, harbors 
and rivers covered with ships, new canals opening, cities arising amidst woods, splendid 
sun emerging from a bright horizon. Motto 

" New worlds are still emerging from the deep, 
The old descending in their turns to rise." 

6th, A grand illuminated representation of LOUIS the sixteenth. The encourager of 
letters, the supporter of the rights of humanity, the ally and friend of the American people. 

7th, The centre arch. The Fathers in Congress. Motto: " Nil desperandum 
reipublicfe." 

8th, The American Philosopher and Ambassador extracting lightning from the clouds. 

9th, The battle near Saratoga, 7th Oct., 1777. 

10th, The Convention of Saratoga. 

11th, A representation of the sea-fight, off Ushant, between Count D'Orvilliers and 
Admiral Keppie. 

12th, Warren, Montgomery, Mercer, Wooster, Nash, and a crowd of heroes who have 
fallen in the American contest, in Elysium, receiving the thanks and praises of Brutus, 
Cato, and those spirits who in all ages have gloriously struggled against tyrants and 
tyranny. Motto : " Those who shed their blood in such a cause shall live and reign for- 
ever." 

13th, Represented peace, with all her train of blessings. Her right hand displaying 
an olive branch ; at her feet lay the honors of harvest ; the background was filled with 
flourishing cities ; ports crowded with ships, and other emblems of an extensive empire 
and unrestrained commerce. 

When the fireworks were finished, the company returned to the academy, and con- 
cluded the celebration by a very splendid ball. 

The whole was conducted in a style and manner that reflects great honor on the taste 
of the managers. 

The news announced to congress from the Spanish branch of the house of Bourbon, 
arriving at the moment of celebration, nothing could have so opportunely increased the 
good-humor of the company, or added to those animated expressions of pleasure which 
arose on the occasion. 



BERNARD. 

This township is about eight miles long, six broad, and is bound- 
ed N. by Mendham, Morris co. ; E. by Morris, Morris co., from 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 443 

which it is separated by the Raritan river ; SE. by Warren, SW. 
by Bridgewater, and W. by the north branch of Raritan, which 
divides it from Bedminster. The face of the township is generally 
mountainous or hilly, and the soil fertile and under good cultivation. 
It has 1 fulling-m., 9 saw-m., 5 grist-m., 2 woollen fac, 4 tanneries ; 
cap. in manufac. $37,939 ; 7 schools, 231 scholars. Pop. 2,059. 

Liberty Corners, 8 miles NE. of Somerville, is a village contain- 
ing 1 temperance tavern, 2 stores, a grist and saw mill, about 20 
dwellings, and a Presbyterian church, erected in 1838. Logtown, 
Vealtown, and Millington, are hamlets. Baskingridge, 12 miles 
NE. of Somerville, and 8 SW. of Morristown, is a place of some 
historic interest, and is noted for the prominent men who here have 
had their dwelling-place. It is beautifully situated on a high ridge 
commanding an extensive prospect to the east, overlooking a large 
tract of lowland in the adjoining county, known as the Morris co. 
Swamp. It contains 4 stores, several mechanics, an academy, a 
Presbyterian church, and 40 dwellings. The academy was for- 
merly in high repute when under the care of the Rev. Dr. Brownlee 
and Rev. Dr. Finley. 

Baskingridge was early settled by Scotch Presbyterians, and a 
log church erected about the year 1700. In 1749, a wooden struc- 
ture was built. In 1839, this was destroyed, and the present ele- 
gant brick church, ornamented by a handsome spire, was erected 
on its site. The Rev. John Cross, supposed to have been a native 
of Ireland, was the first settled clergyman. He was succeeded by 
the Rev. Mr. Lamb, who died in 1749, and in 1751 his place was 
filled by the Rev. Samuel Kennedy, a distinguished Scotch divine, 
who continued until his decease in 1787. In 1795 the celebrated 
Dr. Finley, the projector of the African colonization scheme, took 
the pastoral charge, and remained until 1817, when he accepted the 
office of President of Athens College, Georgia. The year after, the 
Rev. Dr. Brownlee, the well-known controversialist, came here and 
remained until he was appointed a professor in Rutgers' College. 
From 1820 to 1834, the clerical office was filled by the Rev. John 
C. Vandervort. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Anderson, and 
he in turn, in 1836, by the Rev. Oscar Harris, its present pastor. 

The annexed is a view of the house where Gen. Charles Lee, who 
ranked next to Washington in. the army, was taken prisoner by a 
party of British cavalry under Col. Harcourt. It is on rising 
ground, at the SE. entrance of the village. At that time it was a 
tavern kept by Mrs. White, a widow lady, and went by the name 
of "White's Tavern? It has since been somewhat altered, and is 
now occupied as a private dwelling. 

This event took place on the morning of Dec. 13, 1776, a few 
days after Washington's retreat through New Jersey to the western 
bank of the Delaware. Lee had been frequently ordered to join 
the main army with his troops. He slowly obeyed, rather manifest- 
ing to act independently and annoy the rear of the British army ; 
and in opposition to the judgment of Washington, he proposed to 



444 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



establish himself at Morristown. On being again urged, he was 
reluctantly proceeding towards the Delaware, when he was taken 
prisoner. At this time his troops lay at Vealtown, two miles distant ; 
but he had with him a small guard as a protection to his person. 




General Lee's Quarters, Baskingridge. 

The following detailed account of this event is given by General 
James Wilkinson, in his Memoirs, who was with Lee at this time. 

General Lee wasted the morning in altercation with certain militia corps who were of 
his command, particularly the Connecticut Light. horse,* several of whom appeared in 
large full-bottomed perukes, and were treated very irreverently. The call of the adju- 
tant-general for orders also occupied some of his time, and we did not sit down to break- 
fast before 10 o'clock. Gen. Lee was engaged in answering Gen. Gates' letter, and I had 
risen from the table, and was looking out of an end widow, down a lane about one hun- 
dred yards in length, which led to the house from the main road, when I discovered a 
party of British troops turn the corner of the avenue at full charge. Startled at this un- 
expected spectacle, I exclaimed, " Here, sir, are the British cavalry !" " Where ?" re- 
plied the general, who had signed the letter in the instant. " Around the house ;" for 
they had opened files and encompassed the building. General Lee appeared alarmed, 
yet collected, and his second observation marked his self-possession : " Where is the 
guard ? — d — n the guard, why dont they fire ?" and after a momentary pause, he turned 
to me and said, " Do, sir, see what has become of the guard !" The women of the house 
at this moment entered the room, and proposed to him to conceal himself in a bed, which 
he rejected with evident disgust. I caught up the pistols which lay on the table, thrust 
the letter he had been writing into my pocket, and passed into a room at the opposite 
end of the house, where I had seen the guard in the morning. Here I discovered their 
arms, but the men were absent. I stepped out of the door, and perceived the dragoons 
chasing them in different directions,t and receiving a very uncivil salutation, I returned 
into the house. 



* One wanted forage, another his horse shod, another his pay, and a fourth his pro- 
visions, &c, to which the general replied, " Your wants are numerous ; but you have not 
mentioned the last — you want to go home, and shall be indulged, for you do no good 
here." 

t A respectable elderly ladj T , now a resident of Baskingridge, (July, 1842,) and who 
at the time Lee was taken lived in this vicinity, states that two of the guard retreated 
about 40 rods in a northwesterly direction. They were pursued, overtaken, and refusing 
to surrender, were killed. The cavalry, from fear of alarming the American troops in 
the vicinity, by tire report of their fire-arms, used their sabres only, and hacked them so 
terribly that it was found very difficult to remove their bodies to the graveyard, and 
they were put in boxes and interred in the field where they fell. — Note by the compilers 
of the Hist. Collections. 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 445 

Too inexperienced immediately to penetrate the motives of this enterprise, I considered 
the rencontre accidental, and from the terrific tales spread over the country, of the vio- 
lence and barbarity of the enemy, I believed it to be a wanton murdering party, and de- 
termined not to die without company. I accordingly sought a position where I could 
not be approached by more than one person at a time, and with a pistol in each hand, I 
awaited the expected search, resolved to shoot the first and the second person who 
might appear, and then to appeal to my sword. I did not long remain in this unpleasant 
situation, but was apprized of the object of the incursion by the very audible declaration, 
" If the General does not surrender in Jive minutes, I will set fire to the house ;" 
which, after a short pause, was repeated with a solemn oath ; and within two minutes I 
heard it proclaimed, " Here is the General, he has surrendered." A general shout en- 
sued, the trumpet sounded the assembly, and the unfortunate Lee, mounted on my 
horse, which stood ready at the door, was hurried off in triumph, bareheaded, in his slippers 
and blanket-coat, his collar open, and his shirt very much soiled from several days' use. 

What a lesson of caution is to be derived from this event, and how important the ad- 
monition furnished by it ! What an evidence of the caprice of fortune, of the fallibility 
of ambitious projects, and the inscrutable ways of Heaven ! The capture of General 
Lee was felt as a public calamity ; it cast a gloom over the country, and excited general 
sorrow. This sympathy was honorable to the people, and due to the stranger who had 
embarked his fortune with theirs, and determined to share their fate, under circumstances 
of more than common peril. Although this misfortune deprived the country of its most 
experienced chief, I have ever considered the deprivation a public blessing, ministered 
by the hand of Providence ; for if Gen. Lee had not abandoned caution for convenience, 
and taken quarters two miles from his army, on his exposed flank, he would have been 
safe ; if a domestic traitor,* who passed his quarters the same morning on private busi- 
ness, had not casually fallen in with Col. Harcourt, on a reconnoitering party, the gene- 
ral's quarters would not have been discovered ; if my visit and the controversy with the 
Connecticut Light-horse had not spun out the morning unseasonably, the General would 
have been at his camp; if Col. Harcourt had arrived an hour sooner, he would have 
found the guardt under arms, and would have been repulsed, or resisted until succor 
could have arrived ; if he had arrived half an hour later the General would have been 
with his corps ; if the guard had paid ordinary attention to their duty, and had not 
abandoned their arms, the General's quarters would have been defended ; or if he had 
obeyed the peremptory and reiterated orders of General Washington, he would have 
been beyond the reach of the enemy. And shall we impute to blind chance, such a 
chain of rare incidents ? I conscientiously reply in the negative ; because the combi- 
nation was too intricate and perplexed for accidental causes, or the agency of man. It 

must have been designed So soon as Lieutenant Col. Harcourt retreated with 

his prize, I repaired to the stable, mounted the first horse I could find, and rode full 
speed to General Sullivan, whom I found under march toward Pluckamin. 

One mile southeast of Baskingridge formerly stood the mansion 
and farm of Lord Stirling. His country seat was one of the most 
splendid in the state. He had a fine garden, a park stocked with 
deer, and prided himself upon his elegant horses. The annexed 
biographical sketch is from the Encyclopaedia Americana : 

William Alexander, 
Lord Stirling, a major- 
general in the service of 
the United States du- 
ring the revolutionary 
war, was born in the 
city of New York, but 
Facsimile of Lord Stirling's Signature. passed a portion of his 

* Col. J. W. Drake of Mendham, in conversation with one of the compilers of this 
volume, stated that the individual who acted as a guide to Col. Harcourt's party was a 
Mr. Macklewraith, an elder of the Presbyterian church at Mendham. While walking 
in the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a party of British cavalry, who pressed him 
into their service. 

t The morning being cold, and the sun bright, they had left their station, crossed the 
main road, and were sunning themselves on the south side of a house about 200 yards 
from the tavern, which enabled Harcourt to cut them off from their arms. 




'4m. Jfr«f*^s, 



446 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

life in New Jersey. He was generally styled through courtesy Lord Stirling, in conse- 
quence of being considered by many as the rightful heir to the title and estates of an 
earldom in Scotland, from which country his father came, though the government re- 
fused to acknowledge the son's claim when he repaired to Great Britain in pursuit of 
this inheritance. He was early remarkable for his fondness for mathematics and as- 
tronomy, in which sciences he made considerable progress. Throughout the revolution 
he acted an important part, and distinguished himself particularly in the battles of 
Long Island, Germantown, and Monmouth. In the first, he was taken prisoner, after 
having, by a bold attack upon a corps commanded by Cornwallis, effected the escape of 
a large part of his detachment. In the second, his division, with the brigades of Generals 
Nash and Maxwell, formed the corps de reserve ; and in the last he commanded the left 
wing of the American army. He was always warmly attached to General Washington, 
and the cause which he had espoused. He died at Albany, January 15th, 1783, aged 
57 years, leaving behind him the reputation of a brave, discerning, and intrepid officer, 
and an honest and a learned man. 

Henry Southard was born on Long Island in Oct., 1747. When he was eight years of 
age his father, Abraham Southard, removed to the then colony of New Jersey, and set- 
tled at Baskingridge, where the family have since continued to reside. The son received 
but an ordinary English education, and when a young man hired out as a common la- 
borer for thirty cents a day, and by untiring industry collected sufficient to purchase a 
farm. His energy and talents distinguished him from the mass, and he was early ap- 
pointed a justice ; and in upwards of nine hundred cases upon which he decided, in the 
course of his experience, four appeals only were made. In the war of the revolution he 
entered the service, and contributed a share toward the attainment of our independence. 
Among the earliest members of the state legislature, subsequent to the adoption of the 
federal constitution, in 1789, he usefully served in that body for nine years, when he was 
elected a representative in congress. This post of honor he held by successive re-elec- 
tions for 21 years, when in 1821, admonished by the growing weight of years, he volun- 
tarily retired, having then passed the ordinary limit of threescore and ten. A short 
time previous his distinguished son had been elected a member of the senate, and they 
had the pleasure of meeting in the joint committee of the two houses, upon whom, as a 
final resort, had devolved the settlement of the famous Missouri question ; a circum- 
stance probably without a parallel in our political history. He died on the 2d of June, 
1842, at the advanced age of 95 years, up to within a few days of which he had been 
blessed with the full possession of his mental faculties. Until within three years of his 
decease, he had never worn glasses, or used a staff, and was accustomed to a daily walk 
of three miles. Were it not for his silvery hair hanging in clusters down his neck, one 
would not have supposed him to have been over fifty years of age. His memory was 
strong ; he could not only recollect every question which had come before congress, 
while a member, but mention the different speakers and their very arguments. 

Samuel L. Southard, a distinguished son of the above, was born in Bask- 
ingridge, June 9, 1787. At an early age he was graduated with high 
honor at the college of New Jersey, and soon after went to Virginia, where 
he spent several years, studying law, and at the same time supplying his 
deficiency of fortune by his labors as a private tutor. Admitted to the bar 
in Virginia, he returned to his native state, where, after passing through the 
requisite period of study, he received, in 1814, his license as counsellor. 
He rose rapidly to the highest rank in his profession. In 1815, he espe- 
cially distinguished himself by his argument upon the celebrated steamboat 
case, which was discussed by counsel before the legislature of New Jersey. 
On this occasion, Mr. Fulton, who was interested in procuring the repeal of 
a law which had been enacted by the legislature two years before, had 
brought with him to Trenton the most distinguished talent of the New York 
bar; and Mr. Southard, then a very young man in comparison, was employ- 
ed by Col. Ogden and Mr. Dod, the adverse parties, as their counsel. Mr. 
Southard's argument, upon this exciting occasion, was of so brilliant a char- 
acter, that, upon its conclusion, a universal testimony of applause burst from 
a crowded auditory, and it was with difliculty that the becoming order of a 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 447 

legislative hall could be restored. From this time his position in the fore- 
most rank of the men of promise in New Jersey was unquestioned. In the 
latter part of the same year he was elected a member of the House of As- 
sembly of the legislature, from the county of Hunterdon, his residence being 
at that time at Flemington ; but he had been only a week in the house when 
he was placed, at the early age of 28, upon the bench of the Supreme Court 
of New Jersey. In this high station he remained until 1821, when he was 
elected to the U. S. Senate, having little more than reached the age neces- 
sary for a seat in that body. His talents here had a wider sphere, and he 
soon earned for himself so distinguished a reputation, that, in 1823, President 
Monroe, by the unanimous consent of the senate, conferred upon him the 
appointment of Secretary of the Navy. Upon the accession of Mr. Adams 
to the chief magistracy, Mr. Southard, at his earnest solicitation, remained 
at the same post, and continued to discharge its duties until the close of Mr. 
Adams' administration. The promptitude and energy with which he ad- 
minstered the affairs of the navy were soon visible in their effects through- 
out the service, and are yet remembered by those who have at heart the 
interests of this arm of our national defence. The late South Sea expedition 
owes its first conception to him. 

Upon his return to New Jersey, at the close of Mr. Adams' administration 
in 1829, he was immediately appointed by the legislature attorney-general 
of the state ; and before the expiration of his term of office he was elected 
governor. From this post he was transferred again, in 1833, to the United 
States Senate, and immediately took his rank among the most conspicuous 
members of that body during the most brilliant period of its history. Five 
years later he was reinvested with the same office for another term of six 
years, only one half of which had expired at the time of his lamented death, 
In 1841 he was elevated by the senate to the office of president pro tempore, 
and by the subsequent removal of Vice-president Tyler to the executive 
chair, rendered vacant by the death of President Harrison, he became the 
permanent presiding officer of the senate. The dignity and propriety with 
which he presided over the deliberations of this body won for him the respect 
of all parties. The untiring, self-sacrificing zeal with which he devoted 
himself to the duties of the office, doubtless hastened the progress of the 
disease which terminated in his death. He was compelled at length to retire 
from his post, and on the 26th of June, 1842, he expired at Fredericksburg, 
Va., among the relatives of his wife. 

It is the lot of few men to leave behind them a more enviable reputation 
than Mr. Southard's. He filled successively every high station of honor 
and trust to which his native state could raise him ; and was never found 
wanting under any responsibility laid upon him. In the various relations 
of public and private life, his deportment was such as to win for him the de- 
voted attachment of very many and the respect of all. Every generous and 
noble enterprise found in him an earnest and eloquent advocate. His ser- 
vices on behalf of the oppressed Indians, and his cordial support of the 
Colonization and the Bible society, will not soon be forgotten by the friends of 
humanity. It was peculiar to him to carry into the advocacy of whatever 
seemed true and right a sincerity and warmth of feeling, which gave unu- 
sual power to his argument, and imparted great grace to his benevolence. 
As a public speaker he belonged to the first class. His appearance, his 
manner of speaking, and his style of thought corresponded admirably with 
each other. In person he was not above the common size ; but the bold 



448 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

features of his face, his deep-set and piercing eye, and his lofty and expand- 
ed brow, indicated a marked character. His voice, though not highly cul- 
tivated, possessed great compass and power, and seemed especially adapted 
to give expression to the impassioned earnestness which formed one of the 
most striking features of his oratory. His method of argument possessed 
the same direct and forcible character which marked his appearance and 
manner. His conceptions were always clear and distinct ; he saw his sub- 
jects under a strong light, and he seldom failed to place them in the same 
light before others. The clearness of his mental vision, and the sincerity 
and depth of his convictions, manifested by the distinct statement and lucid 
order of his arguments, and aided by the simple earnestness of his manner, 
gave him always great power over his audience, and placed him in the 
highest rank of our public speakers. He possessed that warm and suscep- 
tible temperament, which is the natural soil of strong passions, but he was 
capable beyond most men of exercising self-control under the most trying 
circumstances. The following incident directed his attention, early in life, 
to the importance of subduing the temper and holding it under subjection to 
the decisions of reason. When about eleven years of age his mother struck 
him for some impropriety of conduct; he became enraged, and left his home 
with the intention never to return. He had not proceeded far before he be- 
gan to reflect upon the rashness and wickedness of his conduct, and, seating 
himself by the way-side, he wept long and bitterly, and rose up to return 
home, beg his mother's forgiveness, and promise her that his temper should 
never again become his master. How well he kept this way-side vow they 
can testify who saw him amid the trying scenes of heated political warfare, 
and under the still more trying inflictions of private wrong and injury. His 
warmth of manner, even when he was most impassioned, seemed to be no 
more than the fitting expression of what was due to the subject or the occa- 
sion. He carried with him the air of a sincere and earnest man, with a 
mind devoted to great objects, and endowed with uncommon power to dis- 
cern right ends, and the best methods of attaining them. His reputation is 
a rich, an invaluable legacy to his native state ; her citizens will benefit 
themselves by remembering him who in his life-time was known as New 
Jersey's " favorite son." 



BRIDGEWATER. 

Bridgewater is bounded N. by Bedminster and Bernard, NE. by 
Warren, SE. by Piscataway, Middlesex county, 8. by Raritan river, 
separating it from Franklin and Hillsborough, and SW. by Read- 
ington, Hunterdon co ; greatest length 13, breadth 11 miles; sur- 
face on the NE. mountainous, soil fertile. There are in the town- 
ship 16 stores, 3 woollen fac, 5 tanneries, 5 grist-m., 2 saw-m ; cap. 
in manufac. #69,050. Pop. 3,983. 

Somerville, the county-seat, is pleasantly situated in the valley of 
the Raritan, about a mile N. of that stream, on the New Brunswick 
and Easton turnpike, 10 miles from the former, and 28 NE. of Tren- 
ton. This village is principally built on a single street, running in 
an easterly direction. The annexed view was taken on the line of 
the railroad, near the depot, and shows the prominent public build- 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



449 



ings. On the extreme right, the building with a cupola is the court- 
house ; the one next with a spire is the First Reformed Dutch 
church, both of which structures are brick. The Methodist church 
is seen in the background immediately to the left of the large pri- 





Southern View in Somerville. 

vate dwelling, near the centre of the engraving ; and the 2d Re- 
formed Dutch church is shown on the extreme left. There are also 
here an academy, the county jail, 2 newspaper printing-offices, 3 
hotels, 9 mercantile stores, several mechanical and manufacturing 
establishments, and about 1,500 inhabitants. The village is flour- 
ishing, handsomely built, and bears evidence of refinement and 
taste. The railroad from Elizabeth Port to the Delaware river has 
been constructed as far as this place, a distance of 24 miles, and is 
much travelled in the summer by visitors to the Schooley's mountain 
spring. 

In 1840, a very liberal charter for a company was granted by the 
legislature, for the purpose of bringing into use the water-power of 
the Raritan, at a spot situated near Somerville. The company was 
incorporated under the name of " The Somerville Water Power 
Company," with a capital of $200,000, and a right to increase it 
one half. The company have now so far accomplished their enter- 
prise as to be prepared for leasing water-rights. A canal or race- 
way has been completed, and the water let in and ready for use. A 
village plot has been laid out, and several mills already erected. 
From the liberal inducements offered by the company, the amount 
of water-power, and its favorable situation for market, this spot 
may become at no distant period a thriving manufacturing village. 
The Hon. Garret D. Wall is its President. 

The village of Somerville is of modern date. In the American 
revolution a tavern was kept on the site of the Somerville House. 
After the burning of the courthouse at Millstone, Oct., 1779, by the 
British, this place was made the county-seat, and about the year 
1784 a courthouse and jail were built of logs. The former stood 
about twelve rods east of the present courthouse, and the latter on 
the site of the lower tavern. There were then but three or four 

57 



450 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

dwellings here. In 1798, the present courthouse was erected. Up 
to 1809 or '10, the place was called Raritan. From that period it 
has borne its present name, and has rapidly increased from a mere 
hamlet to a thriving village. 

The following facts relating to the early history of this region, and 
of the oldest church in this vicinity, are derived from a discourse 
delivered by the Rev. Abraham Messier, July 21, 1832, at the lay- 
ing of the corner-stone of the Reformed Dutch church of Raritan. 

It is supposed that the first settlements along the Raritan were 
made between the years 1664 and 1670, a short time after the set- 
tlement of Elizabethtown, which was the first place settled by the 
English in East Jersey. These settlers were probably Dutch and 
French Protestants or Huguenots, who first emigrated to Long Island, 
and thence, allured by the beauty and fertility of the valleys of the 
Raritan and Millstone, to what was then an unbroken wilderness, 
inhabited by the Naraticongs, a powerful tribe of Indians who 
principally dwelt on the north side of the Raritan. 

The church of Raritan, (supposed to be one of the oldest religious societies in this sec- 
tion of the state) was organized March 9th, 1690, by the Rev. Mr. Bartholf, who, on the 
preceding day, preached, administered the sacrament, and baptized three children. These 
services were held previous to the erection of any place of worship. It is supposed that 
the first church in this district was built on the rise of ground a little beyond the junc- 
tion of the North and South branches of the Raritan. That church appears to have been 
called North Branch in the records, and was for a long time under the same pastor with 
Raritan and Millstone. 

The first house dedicated within the bounds of the present congregation is believed to 
have been built ahout the year 1730, or perhaps earlier, on the banks of the Raritan, a 
short distance below the residence of the late Michael Van Veghten, which was their 
place of worship for nearly half a century. From its organization until 1720, the church 
was only occasionally supplied with ministerial services. In the beginning of 1720 the 
Rev. Theodoras J. Frelinghuysen came from Holland, and it is inferred that the 
churches of Millstone and North Branch were then in existence, and constituted with 
this the charge of this pastor. 

He is said to have been " a great blessing to the Reformed Dutch church of America. 
He was an able, evangelical, and eminently successful preacher. He left five sons, who 
were all ministers, and two daughters married to ministers." He continued pastor about 
twenty-seven years. 

In 1747 a call from the congregations of Raritan, North Branch, and Millstone was sent 
to the classis of Amsterdam for approval on the Rev. John Frelinghuysen, a son of the 
above. This call was approved, and having been ordained in Holland, he landed in 
America in 1 750, and assumed the pastoral charge. The ministry of this zealous and 
gifted man was of short duration. He died in 1753, at the age of 25 years. In October, 
1758, the Rev. Jacob R. Hardenburgh, a young man just finishing his studies, was install- 
ed over the five congregations of Raritan, North Branch, Millstone, New Shannack, and 
Bedminster. In this extensive and laborious charge he continued until Oct., 1761, when 
Millstone and New Shannack called the Rev. John M. Van Harlingen, and Mr. Harden- 
burgh retained the remainder. 

In the year 1779 a British troop of horse, under Col. Simcoe, wantonly burnt the 
church, leaving the congregation in a state of destitution until 1784, when they united 
with the freeholders of the county and built the old courthouse. They contributed half 
the expense, on condition of using it for religious worship. 

During the time the}' were without a place of worship, it is understood that Mr. Har- 
denburgh preached in what was called the Court Martial House, a small building which 
stood on the rise of ground along the turnpike, below the village, and is now called Mt. 
Pleasant. It was subsequently moved to the spot now (July, 1832) occupied by the 
house and store of Judge Gaston, and was then used for a court-room and church. 

In 1781, Mr. Hardenburgh accepted a call from the churches of Mombaccus and Hur- 
ley, N. Y., and from thence afterward became President of Rutgers' College, where he 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 45 1 

died in 1792. He was regarded as one of the fathers of the Dutch church in America. 
July 4, 1784, the Rev. Theodorus Frclinghuyscn Romeyn was installed pastor over the 
churches of Bedminster and Raritan. He preached half the time in Dutch and half in 
English, which was the beginning of English preaching in these congregations. He died 
the following year, and was succeeded in the same congregations by the Rev. John Dur- 
yea. In 1788, the house which was rebuilt in 1832 was erected under the superintend- 
ence of Andrew Ten Eyck as manager, and Messrs. Rynier Veghte, Abraham Van Nest, 
Peter D. Vroom, John Hardenburgh, Robert Bolmer, and Jacobus Winterstein, as a com- 
mittee. In 1789, the consistory resolved that from henceforth their transactions should 
be recorded in the English language. All the previous records were in Dutch. In 1798, 
the Rev. John Duryea removed to the pastoral charge of the church in Fairfield, and 
the congregation remained without a pastor until 1809, when the Rev. John S. Vreden- 
burgh became the pastor of the Raritan church alone, and remained until his death in 
Oct., 1821. From 1826 to Aug. 5th, 1831, Rev. Richard D. Van Kleek was settled over 
the congregation. In 1832 the Rev. Abraham Messier took the pastoral charge. 

The Methodist church was built in 1832. The 2d Reformed Dutch church was 
dedicated in 1834. Its first pastor was the Rev. Chas. Whitehead. The Rev. Talbot 
W. Chambers was settled in Dec, 1839. 



About two miles S W. of Somerville, on the old York road, stands 
an antiquated stone mansion over a century old, now the property 
of Ferdinand Van Derveer, Esq. ; once owned and occupied by the 
Hon. William Paterson, deceased. He was a friend of Aaron 
Burr, who, when a student at Princeton, part of the time made his 
home here, and after graduating, pursued his studies in the old 
mansion. Here the late venerated Stephen Van Rensselaer of 
Albany found his accomplished lady, a daughter of Judge Paterson. 

In a wild and romantic ravine in the mountains, about four miles 
from the courthouse, is a noted rock called " Chimney Rock." It is 
a singular, pyramidal-shaped stone, fifteen or twenty feet high, 
on the summit of a bold and nearly perpendicular ledge, over a 
hundred feet in height. Its base is laved by a mountain stream, 
flowing through the dell, 

" With woods o'erhung, and shagged with mossy rocks, 
Whence, on each hand, the gushing waters play, 
And down a rough cascade white dashing fall." 

At the base of the mountain, two miles N. of Somerville, is the 
Bridgewater copper-mine, now closed, but once wrought with con- 
siderable spirit, though unprofitably. " The ore," says Prof. Rogers 
in his Geological Report, " is usually very rich, being characterized 
by the large proportion of massive red oxyde which it contains. 
There has also been found a good deal of native copper, and also 
the green carbonate and green phosphate, together with a minute 
quantity of native silver." 

The annexed inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard at Somerville : — 

Sacred to the memory of Gen. John Frelinghuysen, who died on the 10th day of 
April, a. d. 1833, in the 58th year of his age. A life of active usefulness and humble 
piety was distinguished by the affectionate esteem of his fellow-citizens. His native 
county often bestowed upon him the public tributes of its confidence. Religion was 
with him a matter of pervading principle. He felt it to be his great business, and whe- 
ther in the halls of legislation, amid the cares of official duty, or at his own domestic 
altar, in all his ways he sought to acknowledge GOD, and show forth the praises of his 
Redeemer. Long will the grateful recollection of his kindness be cherished by the sons 



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SmUierm Yiac tf Boumd Brook. 

Not Land ] • so villages in this "own- 

-...-:.- ol - . -. ilea LVW § .-rville. on the 
rth brant h of tfa 
are there 2 I about 20 

Dutch church. As appears 
from " : s,1 si - ganized as 

1719. ] :rch "vras intimately conr. 

t S Hie first] -ction. for 

in 175L John Van . 

Montfbrl 

. line of the Elizabethtown 

S omerville railroad, arxl the New Brunswick and Easton turn- 

-at. It derives its name from 
:ook which runs ji ^nd forms the bounda- 



SOMERSET COrXTY. 453 

ry line between Somerset and Middlesex counties. The village is 
about a mile in length, and the upper part is called Middlebrook. 
The above view was taken from the residence of Mr. John Staats, 
on the southern bank of the Delaware and Raritan canal and 
Raman river, which last is crossed by a substantial wooden bridge, 
a few rods to the right of where the drawing was taken. The 
lower part of the village only is shown. On the right is seen the 
Presbyterian church, a neat wooden structure. There are here a 
Presbyterian church, an academy, 10 s' 3, s • eral mechanics. 2 
grist-m.. 2 tanneries. 1 apothecary. 1 hay-press. 2 lumber-ya. 
coal-yards. 4 taverns. SO dwellings. 90 families, and 566 inhabit- 
ants. This is a thriving place, and at certain seasons a very large 
business is done in the purchase of grain, as uncommon facilities 
are furnished for freighting to New York, either by the canal or 
railroad. 

Bound Brook has been settled oyer 150 years. It is alluded to in >:..:..'> B 
published in 1765, as then beinj a village. The Presbyterian church has been organized 
more than a century. The first elergvn. 11 - Rev. A: what 

he was settled is not known. II N - 793. The Rev. David Barclav was 

ordained Dec. 3d. 1794. and dismissed in April. 1?05. The Rev. Selah St 
hull was ordained Dec. 1805, and - - . 25, 1806. Mr. W. was 
settled over the Dutch church at Brooklyn, L. I., and was tnuasl rredl N 
wick, and became a professor in the The * S F the Dutch church. The 

Rev. James Patter.- - :;.:.: . A 2 16 I, and dismis- - . 1813. He 

went to Philadelphia, and was settled over the First Presbyterian church. Northern Lib- 
vhere he died. The Rev. William A. MeDc-weLi was ordained April 6, 1 S14 ; 
dismissed the succeeding October; went to Morristown. and b - r» of the 

board of missions of the Presbyterian church. The Rev. John B __ - - "stalled Jan. 
6. l?lr - - ; " 1888 i pres at ist - I . Rev. R. K . re .vas in- 
stalled in the pastoral office May 5th. 1830. The present church was erected in 1Sz29, 
the former having been taken down. The old church was built about the vear 1760. 



In the winter of 1775-70. a portion of the revolutionary army 
was barracked in this vicinity. The head-quarters of Washing- 
ton were at Middlebrook. We here make two extracts from 
Thatcher's Military Journal : the first relating to the manner of 
living among the troops, the last giving an account of a military 
execution. 

February. Having continued to live under cover of car n iss I nts most of the win- 
ter, we have suffered extremely from exposure to colds and storms- Our soldiers have 
been employed six or eight weeks in constructing- log-huts, which at length are com- 
pleted ; and both officers and soldiers are now -overing for I 
mainder of the winter. Lo^-houses are constructed with the trunks of trees, cut into 
various lengths, according to the size intended : and are firmly connected by notches cut 
at their extremities, in the manner of dovetailing- 'I 

filled in with plastering. coi:> - ! mod and clay. The roof is formed of s 
pi eces o'~ timber, and covered with hewn slabs. The chimnev. situated at one end of 
the house, is made of similar but smaller timbers : and both the inner and the oc 
are covered with clav plaster, to defend the wood against the fire. The door and win- 
dows are formed - • .rt of the logs, of a proper size, and move on 
wooden hinges. In this manner have om - rs .out nails, and almost without 
tools, except the axe and saw. proi : rs -nd for the;. - 
and comfortable quarters, with little or no expense to the public The huts are ar- 
in straight lines, forming a regular, uniform, compact village. The - .its are 
situated in front of the line, a _ " their rank — the kitchens in the rear : and the 
whole is similar in form to a tent encampment. The ground, for a considers... am> 



454 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

tance, in front of the soldiers' line of huts, is cleared of wood, stumps, and rubbish ; 
and is every morning swept clean, for the purpose of a parade-ground, and roll-call of 
the respective regiments. The officers' huts are in general divided into two apartments, 
and are occupied by three or four officers, who compose one mess. Those for the sol- 
diers have but one room, and contain«ten or twelve men, with their cabins placed one 
above another, against the walls, and filled with straw, and one blanket for each man. 
I now occupy a hut with our field-officers, Col. Gibson, Lieut. Col. Brent, and Maj. 
Meriweather. 

April 20th. Five soldiers were conducted to the gallows, according to their sentence, 
for the crimes of desertion and robbing the inhabitants. A detachment of troops, and 
a concourse of people, formed a circle round the gallows ; and the criminals were brought 
in a cart, sitting on their coffins, and halters about their necks. While in this awful 
situation, trembling on the verge of eternity, three of them received a pardon from the 
commander-in-chief, who is always tenderly disposed to spare the lives of his soldiers. 
They acknowledged the justice of their sentence, and expressed their warmest thankful- 
ness and gratitude for their merciful pardon. The two others were obliged to submit to 
their fate. One of them was accompanied to the fatal spot by an affectionate and sym- 
pathizing brother, which rendered the scene uncommonly distressing, and forced tears 
of compassion from the eyes of numerous spectators. They repeatedly embraced and 
kissed each other, with all the fervor of brotherly love, and would not be separated till 
the executioner was obliged to perform his duty ; when, with a flood of tears, and 
mournful lamentations, they bade each other an eternal adieu — the criminal trembling 
under the horrors of an untimely and disgraceful death, and the brother overwhelmed 
with sorrow and anguish for one whom he held most dear 



FRANKLIN. 

This township is about 14 miles long, with an average breadth 
of 4 miles, and is bounded NE. by Piscataway, (Middlesex co.,) 
SE. by North and South Brunswick, (Middlesex co.,) NW. by 
Bridgewater, W. by Hillsborough, Montgomery, and Princeton, 
(Mercer co.) The Raritan river runs on its N. and NE. line, and 
the Millstone river on its western. The Delaware and Raritan 
canal follows the valleys of those streams, within the township. 
Its soil is fertile, and surface undulating, excepting in the southern 
part, which is hilly. There are, within the limits of Franklin, 14 
stores, 5 lumber-yards, 2 fulling-m., 2 tanneries, 2 grist, 3 saw m. ; 
cap. in manufac. $78,400 ; Rutgers' college, 1 academy, 1 1 schools 
275 scholars. Pop. 3,878. 

The city of New Brunswick is partly in this township, compris- 
ing all that portion north of Albany-st., embracing the railroad 
depot, college buildings, &c. Kingston is on its south, and Six 
Mile Run village on its southeast boundary. Middlebush is a 
small settlement, in the central part. Griggstown is a small set- 
tlement in the southwest part, on the line of the Delaware and 
Raritan canal, where there are about a dozen dwellings. About 
a quarter of a mile south of it, in a ridge of trap-rock, is the 
Franklin copper-mine, formerly extensively worked ; one of the 
shafts having been sunk 1 90 feet. It is now in a dilapidated state. 



HILLSBOROUGH. 

This township is about 12 m. long, 5 wide ; and is bounded N. 
by Raritan river, separating it from Bridgewater, S. by Mont- 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 455 

gomery, E. by Millstone river, dividing it from Franklin, and W. by 
Amwell, Hunterdon co. Its soil is fertile, and surface level or un- 
dulating, excepting on the SW., where the Rock or Nashanic 
mountain extends over a considerable portion of its territory. 
There are in Hillsborough 9 stores, 1 tannery, 1 pottery, 1 flouring- 
m., G grist-m., 5 saw-m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. $22,100 ; 10 
schools, 25G scholars. Pop. 2,863. 

Weston, Flaggtovvn, Blackwells, South Branch, and New Shan- 
nack, contain respectively a few dwellings, and the latter a Re- 
formed Dutch church, which has been in existence about a century. 
Millstone, 6 m. S. of Somerville, is situated on the W. bank of the 
river of the same name, in the immediate vicinity of the Delaware 
and Raritan canal. It is a place of considerable business, and 
large quantities of grain are bought and stored here. There are 4 
stores, 3 taverns, several mechanics, 3 storehouses for grain, an 
extensive lumber-yard, an academy, a Reformed Dutch church, and 
about 45 dwellings. The church, built in 1828 on the site of a for- 
mer one, is a handsome edifice of wood, painted white, with a spire, 
and partially surrounded by a grove of towering Lombardy poplars. 
Millstone was early settled, and it is supposed that the church was 
founded as early as 1720. It was, with that of North Branch and 
Raritan, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Theodorus J. Fre- 
linghuysen. The oldest record existing of an election for elders 
and deacons, is for the year 1751 : they were Simon Van Arsdale, 
L. Dorlant, John Wyckoff, elders ; Isaac Van Nuyse, Jacob Van 
Arsdalen, and William Williamson. 

The first courthouse in Somerset co. stood about 12 rods W. of 
the old bridge in Millstone. In the latter part of Nov. 1779, a 
party of British troops, under Lieut. Col. Simcoe, of the Queen's 
American Rangers, landed near Amboy, from New York, and pro- 
ceeded thence into this county, burnt some stores at Bound Brook, 
18 boats at Van Veghten's bridge, the church at Raritan, and the 
courthouse at this place. On their return, they were attacked by 
a party of Americans in the vicinity of New Brunswick. Col. 
Simcoe's horse was shot near De Mot's tavern, about 2 miles west 
from that city, and both horse and rider came to the ground. A 
militiaman was in the act of piercing Simcoe through the body, 
when his bayonet was knocked up by James Schureman, (see page 
313.) and he was taken prisoner. Among their pursuers was Capt. 
G. P. Voorhies, of the 1st Jersey regiment, a very brave man, who 
having, in his ardor, got ahead of his comrades, the enemy turned 
upon him. In attempting to leap a fence on George's road, at the 
end of the town lane, a mile SW. of New Brunswick, his horse 
caught and hung on the rails. The British, on coming up, hacked 
him terribly with their swords, and he was brought into the town 
by his comrades, on a feather bed, groaning and senseless : he died 
in a few hours. The militia in pursuit killed three, and took six 
prisoners, ere the enemy arrived at South Amboy ; and had not 
their retreat been covered By a large body of troops, who landed 



456 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

from ships previous to their embarkation, the whole of them would 
have fallen into their hands. Dr. Ryker, Mr. John Polhemus, with 
several others, were made prisoners by the covering party of the 
enemy. 

The following is Lieut. Col. Simcoe's account of this expedition, 
as given in his Military Journal : 

On the 25th of October, by 8 o'clock at night, the detachment, which had 
been detailed, marched to Billop's Point, where they were to embark. That 
the enterprise might be effectually concealed, Lt. Col. Simcoe described a 
man, as a rebel spy, to be on the island, and endeavoring to escape to New 
Jersey : a great reward was offered for taking him, and the militia of the 
island were watching all the places where it was possible for any man to 
go from, in order to apprehend him. The batteaux and boats, which were 
appointed to be at Billop's Point so as to pass the whole over by twelve 
o'clock at night, did not arrive till three o'clock in the morning. No time 
was lost. The infantry of the Queen's Rangers were landed : they am- 
buscaded every avenue to the town. The cavalry followed as fast as pos- 
sible. As soon as it was formed, Lt. Col. Simcoe called together the offi- 
cers : he told them of his plan, — " that he meant to burn the boats at Van 
Vacter's bridge, and, crossing the Raritan at Hillsborough, to return by the 
road to Brunswick, and, making a circuit to avoid that place as soon as he 
came near it, to discover himself when beyond it, on the heights where the 
Grenadier Redoubt stood while the British troops were cantoned there, and 
where the Queen's Rangers afterward had been encamped ; and to entice 
the militia, if possible, to follow him into an ambuscade which the infantry 
would lay for them at South river bridge." Maj. Armstrong was instructed 
to re-embark as soon as the cavalry marched, and to land on the opposite 
side of the Raritan, at South Amboy. He was then, with the utmost dis- 
patch and silence, to proceed to South river bridge, 6 m. from South Am- 
boy, where he was to ambuscade himself, without passing the bridge or 
taking it up. A smaller creek falls into this river on the South Amboy 
side : into the peninsula formed by these streams, Lieut. Col. Simcoe hoped 
to allure the Jersey militia. In case of accident, Maj. Armstrong was de- 
sired to give credit to any messenger who should give him the parole of 
" Clinton and Montrose." It was daybreak before the cavalry left Amboy. 
The procuring of guides had been by Sir Henry Clinton intrusted to Briga- 
dier Skinner : he either did not or could not obtain them ; for but one was 
found who knew perfectly the crossroad he meant to take, to avoid the main 
road from Somerset-courthouse, or Hillsborough, to Brunswick. Capt. 
Sandford formed the advance guard, the Huzzars followed, and Stuart's 
men were in the rear, — making, in the whole, about eighty. A Justice 
Crow was soon overtaken : Lieut. Col. Simcoe accosted him roughly, called 
him " Tory," nor seemed to believe his excuses when, in the American 
idiom for courtship, he said "he had only been sparking," but sent him to 
the rear guard, who, being Americans, easily comprehended their instruc- 
tions, and kept up the justice's belief that the party was a detachment from 
"Washington's army. Many plantations were now passed by, the inhabit- 
ants of which were up, and whom the party accosted with friendly saluta- 
tions. At Quibbletown, Lieut. Col. Simcoe had just quitted the advance 
guard to speak to Lieut. Stuart, when, from a public-house on the turn of 
the road, some people came out with knapsacks on their shoulders, bearing 
the appearance of a rebel guard. Capt. Sandford did not see them till he 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 457 

had passed by, when, checking his horse to give notice, the huzzars were 
reduced to a momentary halt opposite the house. Perceiving the supposed 
guard, they threw themselves off their horses, sword in hand, and entered 
the house. Lieut. Col. Simcoe instantly made them remount ; but they 
were afraid to discover some thousand pounds of paper money which had 
been taken from a passenger, the master of a privateer, — nor could he stay 
to search for it. He told the man " that he would be answerable to give 
him his money that night at Brunswick, where he should quarter," — ex- 
claimed aloud to his party, " that these were not the Tories they were in 
search of, although they had knapsacks," — and told the country people who 
were assembling around, " that a party of Tories had made their escape 
from Sullivan's army, and were trying to get into Stalen Island, as Iliff 
(who had been defeated near this very spot, taken, and executed) had for- 
merlydone ; and that he was sent to intercept them." The sight of Justice 
Crow would, probably, have aided in deceiving the inhabitants ; but, unfor- 
tunately, a man personally knew Lieut. Col. Simcoe, and an express was 
sent to Gov. Livingston, then at Brunswick, as soon as the party marched. 
It was now conducted by a country lad whom they fell in with, and to whom 
Capt. Sandford (being dressed in red, and without his cloak) had been intro- 
duced as a French officer. He gave information, that the greater part of 
the boats had been sent on to Washington's camp, but that eighteen were at 
Van Vacter's bridge, and that their horses were at a farm about a mile from 
it. He led the party to an old camp of Washington's, above Bound Brook. 
Lieut. Col. Simcoe's instructions were, to burn these huts, if possible, in 
order to give as wide an alarm to the Jerseys as he could. He found it im- 
practicable to do so, — they not being joined in ranges, nor built of very 
combustible materials. He proceeded without delay to Bound Brook, from 
whence he intended to carry off Col. Moyland ; but he was not at Mr. Van- 
horn's. Two officers who had been ill were there : their paroles were 
taken, and they were ordered to mark " sick quarters" over the room door 
they inhabited, which Avas done ; and Mr. Vanhorn was informed that the 
party was the advance guard of the left column of the army, which was 
commanded by Gen. Birch, who meant to quarter that night at his house, — 
and that Sir H. Clinton was in full march for Morristown, with the army. 
The party proceeded to Van Vacter's bridge. Lieut. Col. Simcoe found 18 
new flat-boats, upon carriages : they were full of water. He was deter- 
mined effectually to destroy them. Combustibles had been applied for, and 
he received, in consequence, a few port-fires : every huzzar had a hand- 
grenade, and several hatchets were brought with the party. The timbers 
of the boats were cut through : they were filled with straw and railing, and 
some grenades being fastened in them, they were set on fire. Forty minutes 
were employed in this business. The country began to assemble in their 
rear ; and, as Lieut. Col. Simcoe went to the Dutch meeting, — where the 
harness, and some stores, were reported to be, — a rifle-shot was fired at him 
from the opposite bank of the river. This house, with a magazine of forage, 
was now consumed, — the commissary and his people being made prisoners. 
The party proceeded to Somerset Courthouse, or Hillsborough. Lieut. Col. 
Simcoe told the prisoners not to be alarmed, that he would give them their 
paroles before he left the Jerseys ; but he could not help heavily lament- 
ing to the officers with him, the sinister events which prevented him from 
being at Van Vacter's bridge some hours sooner, — as it would have been 
very feasible to have drawn oft' the flat-boats to the South river, instead of 
destroying them. He proceeded to Somerset Courthouse. Three loyalists, 

58 



458 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

who were prisoners there, were liberated. One of them was a dreadful 
spectacle : he appeared to have been almost starved, and was chained to 
the floor. The soldiers wished, and it was permitted, to burn the court- 
house. It was unconnected with any other building, and, by its flames, 
showed on which side of the Raritan he was, and would, most probably, 
operate to assemble the neighborhood of Brunswick at its bridge, to prevent 
him from returning by that road. The party proceeded toward Brunswick. 
Alarm guns were now heard, and some shots were fired at the rear, — par- 
ticularly by one person, who, as it afterward appeared, (being out a shoot- 
ing, and hearing of the incursion,) had sent word to Gov. Livingston, who 
was at Brunswick, that he would follow the party at a distance, and every 
now and then give a shot, that he might know which way they directed 
their march. Passing by some houses, Lieut. Col. Simcoe told the women 
to inform four or five people who were pursuing the rear, " that if they fired 
another shot, he would burn every house which he passed." A manor two 
were now slightly wounded. As the party approached Brunswick, Lieut. 
Col. Simcoe began to be anxious for the cross-road diverging from it into the 
Princetown road, which he meant to pursue, and which having once arrived 
at, he himself knew the by-ways to the heights he wished to attain, where 
having frequently done duty, he was minutely acquainted with every ad- 
vantage and circumstance of the ground. His guide was perfectly confident 
that he was not yet arrived at it ; and Lieut. Col. Simcoe was in earnest 
conversation with him, and making the necessary inquiries, when a shot, at 
some little distance, discovered there was a party in the front. He imme- 
diately galloped thither ; and he sent back Wright, his orderly sergeant, to 
acquaint Capt. Sandford " that the shot had not been fired at the party," — 
when, on the right at some distance, he saw the rail fence (which was very 
high on both sides of the narrow road between two woods) somewhat broken 
down, and a man or two near it, when, putting his horse on the canter, he 
joined the advance men of the Huzzars, determining to pass through this 
opening, so as to avoid every ambuscade that might be laid for him, or at- 
tack, upon more equal terms, Col. Lee, (whom he understood to be in the 
neighborhood, and apprehended might be opposed to him,) or any other 
party ; when he saw some men concealed behind logs and bushes, between 
him and the opening he meant to pass through, and he heard the words 
" Now, now," and found himself, when he recovered his senses, prisoner 
with the enemy, his horse being killed with five bullets, and himself stunned 
by the violence of his fall. 



Col. Lee, the celebrated commandant of the Virginia Lighthorse, 
thus speaks, in his memoirs, of the skill displayed in this affair : 

This enterprise was considered, by both armies, among the handsomest 
exploits of the war. Simcoe executed completely his object, (then deemed 
very important.) and traversed the country from Elizabcthtown Point to 
South Amboy, 55 miles, in the course of the night and morning, — passing 
through a most hostile region of armed citizens — necessarily skirting Bruns- 
wick, a military station — proceeding not more than 8 or 9 miles from the 
legion of Lee, his last point of danger, and which became increased from 
the debilitated condition to which his troops were reduced by previous fa- 
tigue. What is very extraordinary, Lieut. Col. Simcoe, being obliged to 
feed once in the course of the night, stopped at a depot of forage collected 
for the continental army, assumed the character of Lee's cavalry, waked 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 



459 



up the commissary about midnight, drew the customary allowance of forage, 
and gave the usual vouchers, signing the name of the legion quarter-master, 
without being discovered by the American forage commissary or his assist- 
ants. The dress of both corps was the same — green coatees and leather 
breeches ; yet the success of the stratagem was astonishing. 




The Frelinghuysen Mansion. 

The above is a view of the mansion in Millstone, which was the 
residence of the late Hon. Frederick Frelinghuysen. It was acci- 
dentally destroyed by fire a few months after the drawing was taken 
for this work. The annexed biographical sketch was furnished by 
a friend. It is very brief, and by no means does justice to the sub- 
ject of it ; but it is the best that could be obtained at this late day, 
as all his cotemporaries, those who knew much of his revolutionary 
history, are no more. 

Frederick Frelinghuysen was born on the 13th April, 1753, and 
died 13th April, 1804, aged 51 years. When only 22 years old, and 
in 1775, he was sent by New Jersey to the continental congress; 
which place he resigned* in 1777. He was next a captain of a corps 

* The following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Frelinghuysen to the speaker of the 
House of Assembly of New Jersey, giving his reasons for not wishing to serve any longei 
in Congres*. It is full of the spirit of '7b', patriotic and unassuming. 

Sir : — Agreeable to the appointment of the legislature, I repaired to Philadelphia in 
the month of January last, and have since that time attended Congress until the public 
business intrusted to my care in the county of Somerset rendered my absence unavoid- 
able. 

It is neer'less for me to remind the honorable legislature, that I did with great reluc- 
tance accept of the appointment of a delegate for this state in Congress. I was then 
sufficiently sensible that the trust was too important for my years and abilities. I am 
now fully convinced that I should do injustice to my country did I not decline that 
service. 

In doing this I am conscious to myself that I am merely actuated by motives for the 
public good, well knowing that whatever may be my abilities, they will be useless to the 
state in the supreme council of the nation, and that the other appointment with which 
the legislature of New Jersey have been pleased to honor me in the county of Somerset, 
is morr than sufficient to employ my whole attention. 

I might add some other circumstances which render my situation here peculiarly 
disagreeable, but I fear the evils which might arise from my opening myself on this sub- 
ject, would more than counterbalance any good it might probably answer. I trust, how- 



460 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

of artillery, a volunteer company to the congress, for one year. He 
was at the battles of Trenton and Monmouth. He afterward ac- 
tively engaged in the war as a colonel in the militia of his native 
county of Somerset. In 1793, after repeatedly receiving the testi- 
monials of public confidence in various state and county offices, he 
was chosen to a seat in the Senate of the United States, and contin- 
ued in that station until domestic bereavements, and the claims of 
his family, constrained him to resign in 1796. In the western ex- 
pedition, he was selected by the commander-in-chief to the com- 
mand as major-general of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania troops. 
He stood among the first at the bar of New Jersey, as a civilian. 
He died beloved and lamented by his country and friends, and left 
for his children the rich legacy of a life unsullied by a stain, and 
that had abounded in benevolence and usefulness. He was the son 
of the Rev. Mr. John Frelinghuysen. who had died many years be- 
fore him. and "who was, with four brothers, all ministers of the gos- 
pel, the descendant of the Rev. Theodorus J. Frelinghuysen. a de- 
voted minister, who came last from Holland in 1720. and preached 
the gospel in the counties of Somerset. Middlesex, and Hunterdon, 
in the state of New Jersey. His labors were greatly blessed to the 
conversion of many souls to God. His son John was settled at 
Raritan in New Jersey : his son Theodorus at Albany in X ew York. 
The other three sons died soon after they had entered upon their 
ministry. Gen. Frelinghuysen left three sons, John, Frederick, and 
Theodore, of whom only the last-named survives, and is now the 
chancellor of the University of New York. 

The following epitaph is copied from a monument in the family 
burying-ground near Millstone : 

Entombed beneath this stone lie the remains of the Honorable Frederick Freling. 
ettsen, Esq.. Major-General of the militarr forces, and Representative in the General 
Assembly of this his native state. Endowed by nature with superior talents, he was be- 
loved by his country. From his youth he was intrusted with her most important con ■ 
Until his death, he never disappointed her hopes. At the bar he was eloquent 
in the Senate he was wise, in the field he was brave. Candid, generous, and just, he 
was ardent in his friendships, constant to his friends. The patron and protector of hon- 
orable merit, he gave his hand to the voting, his counsel to the middle aged, his support 
to him who was feeble in years. To perpetuate his memory his children have raised 

ever, the representatives from New Jersey will not think it impertinent in one who has 
faithfully endeavored to serve his country to declare to them, that the interests of Amer- 
ica loudly call on them for extraordinary rig.. 

I shall say nothing respecting the amaziDg expense of attending at Congress, and my 
inability to support it ; I am determined not to complain until the last farthing of my 
little fortune is spent in the service of my country, and then perhaps I shall have the 
consolation to see poverty esteemed as the characteristic of an honest man. 

I conclude with observing. I am particularly moved to wish for a release from the ap- 
pointment, as it has been hinted to me that my colleague. Mr. Fell, is exceedingly un- 
easy that he is so often left alone to manage the weighty affairs of state, and that he has 
even expressed himself with warmth and temper on the subject in his letters to the legis- 
lature. I shall only say, that I am ready at all times to give an account of my conduct 
to those who appointee 

I trust the legislature will take into consideration and gratify my request, of being ex 
cused from further attendance at Congress. 

I am. sir. your most obedient and most humble servant. 

The Hon.'CAi£B Caxt, E*q. FRED. FRELINGHUYSEN. 



SOMERSET COUNTY. 461 

this monument, a frail memorial of their veneration for his virtues, and of their grief for 
the loss of so excellent a father. He died on the 13th of April, 1804, aged 51 years. 



MONTGOMERY. 

This township is about 8 miles long, 5 wide, and is bounded N. 
by Hillsborough, S. by Princeton, Mercer co., E. by Franklin, and 
W. by Hopewell, Mercer co. The soil is fertile, and surface on the 
S. and NW. hilly, elsewhere generally undulating. There are in 
Montgomery 7 stores, 1 fulling-m., 1 woollen-fac, 1 tannery, 3 
grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $5,800 ; 7 schools, 212 scho- 
lars. Pop. 1,482. 

Harlingen is a pleasant village, 9 miles from Somerville, and 8 
from Princeton ; it contains 2 stores, a tavern, several mechanic 
shops, about 20 dwellings, and a Reformed Dutch church, in which 
worship a large congregation. Blawenburg contains a store, 
about 12 dwellings, and a Reformed Dutch church. Stoutsberg, 
partly in Hopewell township, contains 1 store and 8 or 10 dwell- 
ings. Rocky Hill, on the Millstone river and Delaware and Rari- 
tan canal, 14 miles from Somerville and 4 from Princeton, contains a 
store, tavern, a grist, a saw and a fulling mill, and about 20 dwellings. 

General Washington wrote his farewell address to the American 
army, Nov. 2, 1783, at a dwelling now standing in Rocky Hill, at 
that time the residence of Judge Berrian. Congress was then in 
session at Princeton, and the. President addressed him in a com- 
plimentary manner. The following remarks are extracted from 
Sparks' Life of Washington. 

To this address Washington replied in the presence of Congress, and then retired. 
A house was provided for him at Rocky Hill, where he resided, holding conference from 
time to time with committees and members of Congress, and giving counsel on such 
subjects as were referred to his consideration. 

A large part of the officers and soldiers had been permitted during the summer to 
retire from the army on furlough, and Congress issued a proclamation on the 18th of 
October, discharging them from further service, and all others who had been engaged to 
serve during the war. The army was thus in effect disbanded. A small force only 
was retained, consisting of such troops as had been enlisted for a definite time, till the 
peace establishment should be organized. 

This proclamation was followed by Washington's farewell address to the army, a 
performance not less admirable in its principles and objects than his circular to the 
States. To his cordial and affectionate thanks for the devotedness of the officers and 
soldiers to him through the war, and for the manner in which they had discharged their 
duty, he adds seasonable advice as to their conduct in resuming the character of private 
citizens, and in contributing to the support of civil government. ' Let it be known and 
remembered,' said he, ' that the reputation of the federal armies is established, beyond 
the reach of malevolence ; and let the consciousness of their achievements and fame 
still incite the men who composed them to honorable actions ; under the persuasion that 
the private virtues of economy, prudence, and industry, will not be less amiable in civil 
life, than the more splendid qualities of valor, perseverance, and enterprise, were in the 
field. Every one may rest assured, that much, very much of the future happiness of 
the officers and men will depend upon the wise and manly conduct which shall be 
adopted by them, when they are mingled with the great body of the community. And 
although the General has so frequently given it as his opinion in the most public and 
explicit manner, that unless the principles of the Federal Government were properly 
supported, and the powers of the Union increased, the honor, dignity, and justice of the 
nation would be lost forever ; yet he cannot help repeating, on this occasion, so inter- 



462 SOMERSET COUNTY. 

esting a sentiment, and leaving as his last injunction to every officer and every soldier, 
who may view the subject in the same serious point of light, to add his best endeavors 
to those of his worthy fellow-citizens toward effecting these great and valuable purposes, 
on which our very existence as a nation so materially depends.' 

It was at this period that Dunlap, the painter, then a mere youth, 
was a guest of Mr. Van Home, a gentleman then residing in this 
vicinity. He has left us some interesting reminiscences of Wash- 
ington, which are given with great simplicity and naturalness. 
He says : 

Before I left Princeton for Rocky-hill, I saw, for the first time, the man of whom all 
men spoke — whom all wished to see. It was accidental. It was a picture. No painter 
could have grouped a company of military horsemen better, or selected a background 
better suited for effect. As I walked on the road leading from Princeton to Trenton, 
alone, for I ever loved solitary rambles, ascending a hill, suddenly appeared a brilliant 
troop of cavaliers, mounting and gaining the summit in my front. The clear autumnal 
sky behind them equally relieved the dark blue uniforms, the buff facings, and glittering 
military appendages. All were gallantly mounted — all were tall and graceful, but one 
towered above the rest, and I doubted not an instant that 1 saw the beloved hero. I lifted 
my hat as I saw that his eye was turned to me, and instantly every hat was raised and 
every eye was fixed on me. They passed on, and I turned and gazed as at a passing 
vision. I had seen him. Although all my life used to the " pride, pomp, and circum- 
stance of glorious war" — to the gay and gallant Englishmen, the tartan'd Scott, and 
the embroidered German of every military grade ; I still think the old blue and buff of 
Washington and his aids, their cocked hats worn side-long, with the union cockade, 
their whole equipment as seen at that moment, was the most martial of any thing I 
ever saw. 

A few days after this incident I took up my abode at Mr. John Van Home's, by invi- 
tation, within a short distance of the head-quarters of the commander-in-chief. He fre- 
quently called, when returning from his ride, and passed an hour with Mrs. Van Home 
and the ladies of the family, or with the farmer, if at home. I was of course introduced 
to him. I had brought with me materials for crayon painting, and commenced the por- 
traits of Mr. and Mrs. Van Home ; these were admired far beyond their merits, and 
shown to all visitors. I had with me a flute and some music books. One morning as I 
copied notes and tried them, the general and his suite passed through the hall, and I 
heard him say, " The love of music and painting are frequently found united in the same 
person." The remark is common-place, but it was delightful to me at the time. 

The assertion that this great man never laughed, must have arisen from his habitual, 
perhaps his natural reservedness. He had from early youth been conversant with public 
men and employed in public affairs — in affairs of life and death. He was not an austere 
man either in appearance or manners, but was unaffectedly dignified and habitually polite. 
But I remember, during my opportunity of observing his deportment, two instances of 
unrestrained laughter. The first and most moderate was at a ton mot, or anecdote from 
Judge Peters, then a member of congress, and dining with the general ; the second was on 
witnessing a scene in front of Mr. Van Home's house, which was, as I recollect it, suffi- 
ciently laugh-provoking. Mr. John Van Home was a man of uncommon size and strength 
and bulky withal. His hospitable board required, that day, as it often did, a roasting pig 
in addition to the many other substantial dishes which a succession of guests, civil and 
military, put in requisition. A black boy had been ordered to catch the young porker, 
and was in full but unavailing chase, when the master and myself arrived from a walk. 
" Pooh ! you awkward cur," said the good-natured yeoman, as he directed Cato or Plato 
(for all the slaves were heathen philosophers in those days) to exert his limbs — but all in 
vain — the pig did not choose to be cooked. " Stand away," said Van Home, and throw- 
ing off his coat and hat, he undertook the chase, determined to run down the pig. His 
guests and his negroes stood laughing at his exertions and the pig's manifold escapes. 
Shouts and laughter at length proclaimed the success of the chasseur, and while he held 
the pig up in triumph, the big drops coursing each other from forehead to chin, over his 
mahogany face, glowing with the effect of exercise, amidst the squealing of the victim, 
the stentorian voice of Van Home was heard, " 111 show you how to run doion a pig.'" 
and, as he spoke, he looked up in the face of Washington, who, with his suite, had trotted 
their horses into the court-yard unheard amidst the din of the chase and the shouts of 
triumphant success. The ludicrous expression of surprise at being so caught, with his 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 463 

attempts to speak to his heroic visitor, while the pig redoubled his efforts to escape by 
kicking and squeaking, produced as hearty a burst of laughter from the dignified Wash- 
ington, as any that shook the sides of the most vulgar spectator of the scene. 



WARREN. 

Warren was formed from Bedminster and Bernard in 1806. It 
is centrally distant NE. from Somerville 7 miles ; and is about 8 
miles long by 4 wide. It is bounded NW. by Morris, Morris co., 
and Bernard ; SE. by Piscataway, Middlesex co., and Westfield, 
Essex co. ; E. by New Providence and Westfield, Essex co., and 
W. by Bridgewater and Bernard. Pop. 1,601. This township is 
mountainous. A range of mountains runs through it in an east- 
erly direction, enclosing a long fertile valley known as Washing- 
ton's Valley. In the winter of 1778-9, a part of Washington's 
army, then in a suffering condition, encamped there. The head- 
quarters were then at Middlebrook. There are now to be seen 
remains of the log huts, built by the soldiers on the lands of Isaac 
Bolmar and John Martin. On a mountain in the SE. part of the 
township, near the line of Westfield, is a noted rock, known as 
Washington's Rock, described on page 201 of this volume. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Sussex is the NW. county of the state. It was formed from Mor- 
ris county in 1753. In 1824, its limits were reduced by the erection 
of Warren county from its southern portion. It is 27 miles long, 
and 21 broad. It is bounded northerly by Orange co., New York ; 
easterly by Passaic and Morris cos. ; southerly by Warren co., and 
westerly by Delaware river. The central portion of the county is 
generally level or undulating. The Blue mountains run through 
the western part, and the Wawayanda and Hamburg mountains 
are in the NE. part of the county. The SE. portion is also moun- 
tainous. The county is watered by the Paulinskill, Pequest, Flat- 
kill, Wallkill, and other smaller streams. There are in the county 
many small ponds, some of which are on the summits of the moun- 
tains. Several of them are called the White Ponds, from the fact 
of their shores and bottoms being covered with small white shells. 
Sussex county is one of the most interesting mineral tracts in the 
world. Iron ore and zinc are found in the mountains of the east, 
and marble and many rare minerals exist in the county. A large 
amount of capital is invested in the iron manufacture. This also 
is one of the best agricultural districts in the state. The principal 
products are wheat, corn, and particularly butter, of which large 
quantities are sent to the New York market. The county is divi- 



46 i, SUSSEX COUNTY. 

ded into the following eleven townships. Several of them were 

formed into precincts as early as 1754. 

Byram, Frankford, Green, Hardiston, 

Montague. Newton, Stillwater, Sandiston. 

Vernon, Walpack, Wantage, 

The population of the townships now composing Sussex county 

in 1810, was 12,644; in 1820, 16,617; in 1830, 20,346; in 1840, 

21.769. 



B Y R A M . 

This township is 11 miles long, breadth across its southern end, 
7 miles ; bounded on the E. by Hardistown and Jefferson, Morris 
co. ; S. by Roxbury. Morris co., and westerly by Newton and Green. 
The surface is mountainous, and the township is rich in iron, and 
abounds in rare minerals. There are 4 stores, 4 forges. 2 grist and 
5 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. §34,300 ; 8 schools, 224 scholars. Pop. 
1,153. 

Stanhope, 11 miles S. of Newton, on the county line, and on the 
Morris canal, is a village containing 50 or 60 dwellings, where the 
manufacture of iron has been extensively carried on. Waterloo, 
formerly called Andover Forge, is on the line of the Morris canal, 
and contains a forge, a store, a grist and saw mill, and about 15 
dwellings. 



FRAXKFORD. 

Frankford has an average length of 9, with a width of 5 miles. 
It is bounded N. by Wantage, E. by Hardiston, S. by Newton, and 
W. by Sandiston. The northwestern part of the township is gen- 
erally uneven and stony, but is very productive. The souther- 
part is more level, abounding in limestone. The soil throughout 
the township is very fertile, and well adapted to the growth of 
corn, wheat, rye. buckwheat, oats, potatoes, &c The attention of 
the farmers for the last several years has been particularly directed 
to the making of butter, which is the leading item of the produce 
sent to market. They send also to market (New York city) large 
quantities of pork and flour. About two miles SE. of the village 
of Branchville, on a farm recently owned by William A. Gustin, 
Esq., a quarry of marble was discovered a few years since. It has 
neen pronounced by competent judges a good article. It is of the 
green serpentine order, and some of the specimens are very beauti' 
ful. The quarry is supposed to be very extensive, but has not yet 
been opened to any considerable extent. 

Culver's Gap is a pass through the Blue mountains, over which 
runs the stage-road from Newton to Milford, on the Pennsylvania 
side of the Delaware. There are in the township 5 stores, 1 forge, 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



465 



1 furnace, 6 grist, 8 saw m.; cap. in manufac. $45,405; 13 schools. 
307 scholars. Pop. 2,410. 




Central View in Branchville. 

Branchville is on the road from Newton to Milford, 7 miles NW. 
of the former, and also on a branch of the Paulinskill, which empties 
into the main stream about one and a half miles south of the village. 
It is formed by the outlets of Culver's and Long ponds, two beautiful 
sheets of water in the western part of the township, and affords 
fine facilities for manufacturing, there being a fall of about 300 feet 
in two miles. Branchville was originally settled in 1690, by Wil- 
liam Beemer, but nearly all the buildings have been erected since 
1830. It contains 4 stores, an academy, a free church, 3 grist and 
2 saw m., 2 taverns, 1 cloth-dyeing and dressing establishment, 1 
carriage manufactory, 1 harness and 2 cabinet makers, 2 black- 
smiths, 2 weavers, 1 cooper, 32 dwellings, and about 200 inhabit- 
ants. Augusta, two miles E. of Branchville, contains a Presbyte- 
rian church, and 15 or 20 dwellings. Coursenville, 4 miles N. of 
Augusta, contains a store, a grist-mill, and a few dwellings. 

For the following communication relating to the township, the 
compilers are indebted to a gentleman now residing in Branchville. 

There are several places in this township which show evident 
traces of having been once inhabited by Indians, though they had 
entirely evacuated it prior to the establishment of any permanent 
settlement by the whites. The first white settlers came principally 
from Connecticut, and located themselves in the southeastern part 
of the township, about the year 1700. Among the earliest settlers 
were Isaac Colt, Robert Price, and John Gustin. There were also 
several German families who settled here at about the same time. 
Among them was Isaac and John Dewitt, and William Beemer. 

Robert Price, one of the first settlers above named, when a small 
boy, was taken a prisoner by the Indians at one of the massacres 
in the eastern states. He and his mother were both marched off 

59 



466 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

together, and she being somewhat conversant with the language of 
the savages, soon learned from their conversation and gestures that 
she was herself to be dispatched, and immediately communicated 
the intelligence to her son. She told him that he must not cry 
when they killed her, or they would kill him too. She marched 
only a few rods further before she was killed, and the boy was 
eventually adopted by one of the squaws as her child, she having 
lost her own a few days previous. He lived with the Indians until 
he was over 21 years old, and was then rescued by his friends. It 
was a long time before he became thoroughly reconciled to civil- 
ized society, and he sometimes expressed a desire to return to the 
Indians, but the feeling gradually wore away. Several years after 
his release, he removed to this township. 

Some years since there resided in the northern part of this township a certain Mr. C, 
more familiarly known among his acquaintances as " Uncle Philip." He was of Ger- 
man descent, and his father was among the earliest settlers of the township. Uncle 
Philip, take him all in all, was no doubt the most singular specimen of human nature 
the township ever produced. He was an implicit believer in witchcraft, ghosts, hobgoblins, 
or any other creature of superstition of which he ever heard. No story, however marvel- 
lous or improbable, could stagger his credulity, except that of the world's turning round 
upon its own axis. This he hooted at as preposterous and impossible, a mere specula- 
tion of bookish men ; and nothing did Uncle Philip hold in more sovereign contempt than 
all " book laming." But it is not strange that Uncle Philip discarded the Newtonian 
system — he had a system of his own. He believed there were " more things in heaven 
and earth" than such philosophers ever " dreamed of," and that the art of magic was 
indispensable to the development of truths pertaining to the material or immaterial 
world. 

His perpetual brooding over dark mysterious subjects aided in giving a countenance, 
naturally far from prepossessing, a still more wild and unnatural expression. An artist, 
desiring to personify superstition, could not have chosen a better model. His long lank 
form, bent and misshapen — his swarthy, lantern-jawed, unshaven visage — dark shaggy 
brows — a deep-set, wild and wandering eye, which seemed ever and anon looking out for 
spectres — and then his costume, constructed with utter disregard to fashion, set off with 
a cap of colossal proportions, rudely fashioned from the skin of some hairy uncouth 
animal, ornamented with its long bushy tail dangling over his shoulders — the whole form- 
ing as grotesque and singular an outline as the wildest imagination could conceive. And 
his manners were quite as eccentric as his external appearance. 

He seemed to regard almost every person with distrust, suspecting them of being 
leagued with witches and evil spirits against himself. Whenever he started upon a 
hunting excursion, he studiously avoided all contact with any person, fearing, as he said, 
that they would put a spell upon his gun ; and if, despite all his efforts to avoid it, he 
should meet any person whom he deemed at all suspicious, he would give up his hunt in 
despair. Near the close of his life, however, he discovered a composition which he re- 
garded as an infallible remedy for those evils. A very small quantity of this composi- 
tion stored away in his pocket, afforded, as he believed, perfect immunity from all the 
spells and machinations of demons and witches combined. 

Among his superstitious acquaintances Uncle Philip was as completely sovereign, as 
was the knight of the burning girdle among the sorcerers and magicians of Egypt. If 
there was a spell or a charm to be broken, a witch to be chastised, a demon to be exor- 
cised, blood to be stopped, a burn to be cured, or any other extraordinary thing requiring 
the aid of magic, Uncle Philip was the man. No case was sufficiently desperate or mys- 
terious to resist the restoring influence of his potent wand, provided, always, that a suf- 
ficient quantum of faith was exercised by the patient. All the troubles and misfortunes 
he suffered were charged upon the witches. 

Many were the fantastic tricks played upon Uncle Philip by the mischievous youngsters 
of the neighborhood upon the credit of the witches. They very unjustly subjected the old 
man to frequent annoyances. Often would they " make night hideous" by surrounding hia 
dwelling and serenading him with horns, kettles, drums, bells, &c, merely that they 
might hear Uncle Philip the next day tell how the witches had used him. He gave it 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 467 

out that he could find stolen goods by dreaming out the spot where they were deposited ; 
and often did he, on attempting to begin his work in the morning, find his axe, his flail, or his 
ox-yoke, or one of the wheels of his wagon among the missing, and after he had dreamed 
over his loss for several days, and searched every nook and corner, his property would 
come back to him. He once started from home upon a journey about sundown, intend- 
ing to drive all night, and so he did ; but having fallen asleep during the night, he awoke 
at day-break the next morning before his own door. Loudly did the old man berate the 
evil spirits for this manoeuvre, though many suspected that another kind of spirits had 
done the mischief. 

Uncle Philip was a most inveterate star-gazer. By studying them minutely, he pro- 
fessed to be enabled to foretell coming events, the state of the weather, &.c. In order 
to facilitate his heavenly studies, he at one time erected a sort of scaffold, supported by 
four posts sunk a few inches in the ground. On the top of this scaffold, he placed a 
wooden trough of sufficient dimensions to contain his body. Here, stretched out upon 
his back, he pursued his researches for several evenings uninterrupted, and was so highly 
elated with the invention, that he could not be persuaded to relinquish it for his bed until 
very late at night. All went on swimmingly with Uncle Philip, until on a certain eve- 
ning, after his family had retired for rest, they were suddenly aroused by a terrible crash, 
succeeded by several groans, and on running out, found Uncle Philip's scaffold flat upon 
the ground, and himself making a pretty terrible ado among the ruins. He proved to be 
pretty severely, though not dangerously, injured. The story of his disaster was soon 
fold. A certain mischievous old sow that Uncle Philip had for some time suspected of 
being bewitched, was rubbing herself against one of the posts that supported the scaf- 
fold, which being but slightly fixed in the ground, gave way, and of course brought Uncle 
Philip and his trough both suddenly upon terra firma. So suddenly did the account of 
Uncle Philip's misfortune circulate for miles around him, and so general and universal 
was the laugh enjoyed at his expense, that it completely cured him of his star-gazing 
propensity, and he shunned the society of his neighbors for several months after the 
event ; and until his death nothing could sooner cause a frown upon his countenance, 
than any allusion to the stars. 



GREEN. 

Green was formed in 1824 from Hardwick and Independence, 
Warren co. It is 6 miles long, with a.width of from 2 to 4 miles, 
being the smallest township in the county. It is bounded NE. by 
Newton, SE. by Byram, SW. by Hardwick and Independence, 
Warren co., and NW. by Stillwater. It has 2 grist-m., 1 saw-m. ; 
cap. in manufac. $5,200 ; 5 schools, 110 scholars. Pop. 777. The 
surface on the SE. is mountainous ; elsewhere, hilly or undulating. 
The Pequest river runs through it, and there are several small 
ponds scattered on its surface, among which are Grass, Hunt's, 
and Reading ponds. Greenville, 7 miles south of Newton, is a 
small village, containing about 20 dwellings. 



HARDISTON. 

This township is nearly triangular in form : it measures across 
its N. side 8i miles, its SE. 12|, and its W. 14 miles. It is bounded 
northerly by Wantage and Vernon, SE. by West Milford, Passaic 
co., and Jefferson, Morris co., and W. by Byram, Newton, and 
Frankford. The township contains 10 stores, 3 furnaces, 6 forges, 
8 grist-m., 13 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $68,075 ; 15 schools, 403 
scholars. Pop. 2,831. The Wallkill flows N. through the central 
part of the township. A great portion of it is mountainous. 
« 



468 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



The Hamburg or Wallkill mountains cover its eastern portion, 
and Pimple hill, a high eminence, is in the western part. The 
township is considered one of the most interesting mineral tracts 
in the Union. Inexhaustible quantities of iron ore and zinc exist 
in the mountains on the east. There was in 1840 invested in the 
iron business in this township a capital of SI 16.955. 




View of Sparta. 

The flourishing village of Sparta is on the Wallkill, near the 
western line of Hardiston, 7 miles E. of Newton. The above view 
was taken near the female seminary. The large building to the 
left near the spectator is the Methodist church ; the spire of the 
Presbyterian church appears in the distance. This is one of the 
most pleasant villages in this part of the state. The dwellings 
are neat, many of them ornamented with shade trees, and the sur- 
rounding scenery is of a bold and picturesque character. It con- 
tains 5 stores, an academy and a female seminary, 2 churches, 2 
taverns, 2 grist-m., 6 forges for making bar iron, an anchor-factory, 
a fulling and clothing factory, a variety of mechanics, and about 
400 inhabitants. 

The following notice of this village, written in Aug. 1843, is 
from the Newark Daily Advertiser : — 

This village of classic name has indigenous merits. We have made it the place of 
our summer rustication, and shall ever remember it with pleasure. It is with places as 
with heroes, many a one goes uncelebrated merely for want of a poet ; and the presence 
of a Lycurgus is only wanted to render this modern Sparta more famous, as it is be- 
yond question more picturesquely located, than its ancient namesake at the foot of 
Mount Taygetus. The " Daily" must serve the place of both lawgiver and poet, and 
spread its lame abroad. 

Nature here wears some of her most bewitching charms, and enterprise is fast adding 
to the attractions of art. Within a brief period the village has doubled in size. The 
Wallkill, which rises near, (and which empties into the Hudson at Kingston,) with two 
or three other never-failing streams, turn the wheels of 4 forges, 1 anchor-factory, 1 ful- 
ling-m., 3 saw-m., 1 shingle-factory, and 2 fiour-m. : and many valuable mill-seats yet 
invite occupancy. One of the flour-mills is the largest in Sussex co., and is the pro- 
perty of Mr. Morris, a citizen, and brother of the Mayor of New-York. Much may be 
said, too, of the agreeableness of this vicinity. It has, in addition to its unsurpassed 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 469 

beauties of scenery, an ornament of which any rural town in our country might justly 
be proud, in a well-conducted Female Seminary. The fitness of the location, the ele- 
gance of the building, and the experience of the Principal, (Mrs. Dayton,) conjoin to 
make it attractive to those who would have their daughters acquire health with learn- 
ing. I am happy to find that Mrs. D. is not unknown to some of your citizens. The 
edifice stands on high ground at the southern extreme of the valley in which Sparta 
lies. For several miles is seen stretching up between beautiful hill-sides a charming 
vale, its bosom studded with living lakes and green clusters of trees. To see, is to be 
delighted with the prospect. 

From a clear summit near by may be seen Newton and Augusta, surrounded by the just 
now blooming buckwheat hills of Sussex, and in the distance, though distinctly visible, 
the Delaware Water Gap and the Wind Gap of the Delaware, the Turnpike Gap, (scarce- 
ly less admirable,) between Newton and Milford, and the blue hills of Pennsylvania and 
New York. At the base of the summit lies a lake of remarkable beauty. No part of 
our country more abounds in beautiful lakes. Some of these are peculiar as containing 
white shells ; and this reminds me of the mineralogical and geological interest of the 
locality. Prof. Rogers, of Philadelphia, has made repeated visits, and Dr. Samuel 
Fowler has enriched the cabinet of the college of New Jersey with a few thousand spe- 
cimens gathered here. He has also favored the Female Seminary of the place in the 
same way. 

This is the only locality of zinc in our country. A rich vein extends 4 miles, as we 
know by its out-croppings. Companies from Boston and New-York have made efforts 
to purchase it, but European labor is too cheap to permit them to pay a price worth 
naming, and work it. Should a rupture occur between Europe and America, or should 
regulations be made in trade so that this mine can ever be worked, it will prove an im- 
mense source of wealth to the possessors. 

Reader, when you would escape from " Vanity Fair" to enjoy nature in her most lux- 
uriant retirements, come to Sparta. It is one of her banqueting halls, where she keeps 
holiday the summer through. For the languid frame and the sick heart, there is no- 
thing like the pure elastic air, the reviving atmosphere of these mountain solitudes, 
where every breeze visits the senses as if laden with the renovating spirit of life. You 
will here learn, too, what few seem to know, that the most charming parts of New Jer- 
sey are the least frequented. 

Ogdensburg, 3 miles N. of Sparta, contains 15 or 20 dwellings. 
Franklin is about 5 miles N. of Sparta, and 1 1 from Newton. It 
is a thriving place, where the iron manufacture is extensively car- 
ried on. Large quantities of pig iron are made, hollow-ware, stoves, 
<fec. It contains 2 forges, a cupola and a blast furnace, a grist 
and 2 saw mills, a neat Baptist church built of stone, and 36 
dwellings. 



MONTAGUE. 

This township is situated upon the Delaware, in the NW. corner 
of the state, centrally distant NW. from Newton 16 miles. It is 
S\ miles long, with an average width of 6 miles. It is bounded 
N. by part of Orange co., N. Y., E. by Wantage, S. by Sandiston, 
and W. by the Delaware. There are 4 grist-m., 1 saw-m., 6 
schools, 143 scholars. Pop. 1,025. The eastern part is mountain- 
ous, being covered by the Blue mountains, the western and middle 
portion level or undulating, and extremely fertile. It is well wa- 
tered by numerous streams, and a fine bridge crosses the Delaware 
below Milford, Pennsylvania. 

The following account of an Indian incursion into Montague, in 
the war of the revolution, was verbally communicated to the com- 
pilers by a resident, the Hon. Isaac Bonnell. 



470 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

One morning about daylight, a party of about 30 Indians crossed 
the Delaware in canoes, and attacked a dwelling occupied by a 
family by the name of Jobs,* where they killed and scalped three 
young men of the family, and took the remainder prisoners. From 
thence they crossed Shimer's brook, to the dwellingf of Capt. Abra- 
ham Shimer, about fifty rods north. The Captain, who was of 
German extraction, and a very brave man, had with him 5 or G 
negroes ; and, as he had incurred the deadly hatred of the Indians, 
his capture was the prominent object of their incursion. One or 
two of the savages had entered the house, ere the inmates were 
apprized of danger. The negroes instantly rushed upon them and 
forced them out. The captain, at that time in bed, was alarmed 
by his slaves. He immediately ordered the doors and windows of 
the lower story to be barricaded, and stationed the negroes at 
them armed with axes, while he, with the only gun in the house, 
went up stairs, placed a feather-bed against the window, leaving 
one pane of glass uncovered, through which he fired at the Indians. 
They returned the fire, and one of their balls entered through the 
same pane, J and grazed the captain's face. Shimer shot one of 
them, breaking his thigh, and he was borne off by his companions. 
A small fort, at that time occupied by militia, stood on the banks 
of the Delaware. Tidings had been conveyed to them of the ap- 
proach of the Indians ; but thinking it was false, they paid no at- 
tention to it, until hearing the firing at Shimers, they came to the 
rescue. A skirmish ensued, and the Indians retreated across the 
Delaware, abandoning in their haste all their prisoners, among 
whom was one of the captain's negroes. 

A few days after, the same party attacked a house a few miles 
N., belonging to Mr. Patterson. They captured that gentleman 
and his two sons, one five and the other seven years of age, and 
then returned to their country on the Niagara frontier. Mr. Pat- 
terson, being carelessly guarded, had several opportunities of escap- 
ing, but as he hoped to save his sons, he continued with them until 
within one day's journey of their villages, where he knew a cruel 
death awaited him. In the night, when the Indians were asleep, 
he took two horses which they had taken from him, and escaped. 
The second day, being without food, he killed one of them. The 
other, alarmed at the scent of blood, broke loose, and Mr. Patter- 
son going in pursuit, not only lost him, but was unable to find the 
spot where his slaughtered companion lay. In the course of this 
day he heard the Indians yelling in pursuit. He however eluded 
them, and travelled on by the sun for five days, without any food 
excepting buds and roots, and a snake and a toad he had killed, 
when he arrived at the head-waters of the Susquehanna. There 

* The dwelling now occupied by Joseph Westbrook. 

t This house is at present the residence of Jacob Hornbeck. It is the first two-story 
house ever built in the township. 

X This pane of glass remained in the window until the summer of 1842, when tho 
house was repaired. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



471 



he crooked a pin for a hook, and attaching it with a worm at the 
end of a line made of the bark of slippery elm, caught five fish, 
and ate them raw. This appeased his hunger, and gave him 
strength to construct a rude raft, on which he floated down to the 
Wyoming settlements, and from thence returned home. 

The sons were adopted by the Indians, became domesticated 
among them, and thoroughly savage in their habits. Elias, the 
youngest, when a man, returned to this part of the country and 
married, still retaining many of his Indian customs. Here he re- 
sided until 1838, when he and his wife left for the Tuscarora re- 
servation. 



NEWTON. 

Newton is about 13 m. long ; breadth on the E. end 9 m., and 
on the W. about 1 m. It is bounded N. by Frankford, E. by Har- 




North View of Newton from the Milford Road. 

diston, SE. by Byram, SW. by Green and Stillwater, and W. by 
Sandiston. The central part is level, and on the SE. and NW. 
hilly. The township is very fertile, and is watered by the Paulins- 
kill and the Pequest. There are 5 grist-m., 7 saw-m ; cap. in 
manufac. $91,325; 3 acad. 155 students; 5 schools, 537 scholars. 
Pop. 3,857. 

Newton, the seat of justice for Sussex co., is in the central part 
of the township ; 68 miles from Trenton, 56 from New York, 40 
from Easton, and 98 from Philadelphia. It is pleasantly situated 
in a beautiful amphitheatre of encircling hills, on ground gently 
sloping to the NE. and E., and terminating in what is called the 
" Bog Meadows," which in very foggy weather appear like a vast 
expanded sheet of water, covering many hundred acres, and ex- 
tending almost to Lafayette, a distance of nearly 5 miles, through 



472 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



which, fed by numerous springs, runs one of the branches of the 
Paulinskill, a stream originally known to the Indians by the singu- 
lar cognomen of the Tockhockonetcunk. 

The above view of Newton was taken on the stage road to Mil- 
ford, about a quarter of a mile north of the village. The spire on 
the left is that of the courthouse, the Episcopal church is shown 
next to it, and the Presbyterian church on the right. The Metho- 
dist church is not seen from this point. Newton contains the coun- 




View of the Courthouse, Newton. 

ty buildings, 3 churches, 4 taverns, 9 stores, 4 groceries, 2 cabinet, 
3 wagon, and 6 harness makers, 4 blacksmiths, 3 tailoring estab- 
lishments, 7 milliners, 1 tannery, 2 jewellers, 2 apothecaries, a bank, 
2 newspapers, the New Jersey Herald and Sussex Register,* and 
a population of 912, viz: white males 410, white females 472; 
colored males 15, colored females 15. There are also a lyceum 
and a public library, 3 academies and grammar-schools, and 4 oth- 
er schools ; and only 2 white persons over 20 years of age who 
cannot read and write. These, with a large temperance society 
numbering about 400 members, with well-conducted sabbath- 
schools, speak favorably for the morals and intelligence of the 
population. The place is remarkably healthy, and the adjacent 
country furnishes many choice attractions, where the mineralogist, 
botanist, naturalist, and man of leisure, will find much to instruct 
and amuse. 

The village of Newton might have been better located a quarter 
of a mile S W. of its present site, but for a mistake on the part of the 
legislature. The act authorizing the building of a courthouse for 
Sussex co., passed in 1761, required it to be erected within half a 
mile of Henry Harelocker's house, then the only dwelling within 



* This newspaper was established in 1813, and is the oldest in what is now Warren 
and Sussex counties. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 473 

the limits of what is now Newton village. By that proviso, it be- 
came necessary to build the courthouse where it now is, or in a 
less favorable place : for Harelocker lived where Amos Petit now 
resides. v If it had been run out in any other direction, the location 
would, owing to the unfavorable form of the ground, have been 
still worse. As it was, it is slyly intimated that the 40 chains did 
not quite reach the present site ; but inasmuch as it would have 
been inappropriate to put his majesty's officina justitice exactly at 
the foot of a hill, and precisely over a stream of water, three or 
four chains were thrown in for good measure and the building placed 
partly up the hill-side. A few other buildings were in a short time 
put up in the neighborhood of Harelocker's plantation, and in 1765, 
the unique courthouse, a massive stone building, devoid of orna- 
ment, was finished. It faces the village green, at that time cov- 
ered with woods, and, although somewhat dilapidated, promises to 
last another generation. Previously, the village of Johnsonburg, 
in the present limits of Warren co., was the seat of justice for the 
county. It was then called " the log jail," from a jail there con- 
structed of logs. Newton has gradually grown up since the con- 
struction of this edifice, deriving its chief support from the agricul- 
tural interests of the surrounding country. 

What is now called Spring-st., because it leads out from the village in the direction 
of the Big Spring, was formerly called the Gallows Road, on account of a number 
having been hung along that road. The two most frequently spoken of, on account of 
the aggravated nature of their crimes, and the peculiarly hard circumstances attending 
them, are Mary Cole and Peter Brakeman, — the former hung on the right hand side of 
the road, just below Dr. Stuart's residence, by Sheriff Green, in 1811, in what is still 
called the Mary Cole field. This wretched woman killed, or aided in killing, her ven- 
erable mother, and concealing the body under the hearth. Her husband was privy to 
the murder, and, as many believe, the prime mover in the fiendish plot, actuated by a 
desire to get possession of his aged mother-in-law's property ; and that he got his igno- 
rant wife, the partner of his guilt, when detection was certain to overtake them, to as- 
sume the unnatural act, — assuring her that they coidd not hang a woman. Soon after 
the murder, they moved away ; and the family who went into the house, before long 
smelt the putrefying body, and search disclosed the accursed deed. They lived about 
a mile north of Lafayette, in the woods. He was acquitted. 'Tis said, that on seeing 
her husband smile at the gallows, the poor woman said, "Ah! I could tell «something 
that would change that smile into tears." 

Peter Brakeman was hung further down, in a hollow near Moore's pond, by Sheriff 
Darrah, in June, 1820, for murdering a pedler by the name of Nichols, with whom he 
had travelled from Montrose, Susquehanna co., Penn., in the character of a friend, but 
evidently with the intention of taking his life from the first, to possess himself of three 
or four hundred dollars, which he knew he had. They were seen in different places to- 
gether, prior to the murder, — stayed 2 or 3 days at Predmore'a tavern, Lower Lafayette, — 
played the game of 31, played cards, stopped together at Sparta, were seen in company 
4 or 5 miles further on. After that, Brakeman stopped alone at a tavern 2 miles still fur- 
ther, (Woodsport,) called for supper, but took some lunch and went on, not waiting for 
the supper. They were bound for Philadelphia. Shortly afterward, a boy going along 
the turnpike after the cows, with a little dog, the dog ran into the woods by the road side, 
and, almost in plain sight, began to bark. The boy went to see what he had got, — when 
the body, shockingly mangled, met his view. A large knife, and an ugly club which 
Brakeman carried, were found beside the body. The club he cut in the beach woods, and 
carried with the large end down. Some persons spoke to him about it, as a barbarous- 
looking weapon : 'twas generally noticed. He was a large, stout man, over 6 feet high. 
Went to Philadelphia, and back to Montrose, where, some time after, he was taken, in his 
Bchool-room. Shirt and stockings of the pedler were in his possession. 

It made a great excitement at the time of his apprehension and trial. The body of 

60 



474 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



the pedler was disinterred, and taken into the courthouse, to see if he would put his hand 
on it, — many thinking that if he did, and was guilty, blood would gush forth at his touch. 
He seemed much affected at the sight, wept, called him a dear friend of his, and freely 
put his hand on the bare body. No blood started therefrom, and this was considered, by 
not a few, full evidence of his innocence. A pretended confession was published after 
his death ; but the better opinion is, that only Brakeman, the pedler, and God, positively 
know the perpetrator of the crime. Circumstances were strong against him, — so strong 
as to require the forfeit of his life. 




Moody's Rock. 

For the annexed account of Moody the tory, and for the histori- 
cal matter relating to Newton, the compilers are indebted to Nel- 
son Robinson, Esq. 

Two miles south of the village of Newton, and half a mile west of the stage-road 
leading to New York, are two adjacent bodies of water, known as the Big and Little 
Muckshaw ; the former lying immediately south of the latter, with which, in high water, 
it forms a communication of several yards in width. Below these two ponds, to the- 
south and east, a marsh extends, for quite a distance, in" many places abounding in 
stagnant pools, and noxious weeds, or foul swampy shrubs, very difficult, if not totally 
impossible to be traversed. On the west of this marsh, a point of land juts forward, 
bounded northward by the southern margin of the Big Muckshaw, eastward by the 
marsh itself, upon which it abruptly fronts, and on the west, for considerable distance, 
by an inlet of the pond, and a piece of marshy ground below ; while to the southward 
it runs off into a ridge of irregular rocks, thickly shaded by a dense growth of trees, 
which for many a long year have concealed the gloomy haunts within. 

This is one of the numerous spots in New Jersey, around which hangs an interest, 
a traditionary celebrity, that is destined to endure as long as the great principles for 
which her patriots of the revolution valiantly struggled shall animate their offspring to 
noble and virtuous enterprise. It was here that an instrument of foreign tyranny found 
shelter for himself and his loyal followers, in those days of peril. Hence, like a band 
of hungry wolves, they broke loose from their den, in the darkness of midnight, to com- 
mit their depredations upon those who rallied around the standard of liberty, and bade 
defiance to the wrath of the oppressor. To this wild and secure retreat, when danger 
threatened, did the tory leader, and his company of active associates, resort ; and the 
political hypocrites of those times nourished them there, and kept them advised of what 
was going on amongst the friends of the colonists. 

Some time since, I visited this place, out of curiosity, to see what kind of a spot 
it was that afforded protection to the king's arms during that memorable period, and 
acknowledged the royal dominion till his hirelings could no longer maintain one poor 
inch of Jersey soil in subservience to his regal will. Entering the woods from the stage ■ 



SUSSEX COUNTY. | ] j 

road, after a short walk. I crossed between the two Mockshaws, on a foot-log. aad saun- 
tered along the western shore of the Big Mucksr. i 

traced the penile curvations r.reme southern marge, 

and passed down a piece along some iow. wet, marshy ground beyond, I m i aa^i J 
to cross ov-: . : elevated point ■ quest ot* a 

had started. Pursuing a narrow, winding pal roomy woo: 

over and amidst rough, precipitous :y a kind of 

fight of nat • cad of Deit; he rough a.: 

Emeatone. After , _ .:. the marsh on le comes close npon the 

path, which then benda maw iiryroaa d to . ove, on 

the left hand, and the deep mire and water hemming up the right aga i oroaeh 

-:-e. Following this narrow pass about irom where k thus sud- 

denly* bends to the northward, a large eavern is found aad, upon good 

anthority. that Bonnel Moody and his party harbored, for some time, during the revo- 
lutionary war. Hence it is well known, in the neighborhood, as Mac 

rmed by the clif ■ a) deep, from 

teat to rear . illy arehxng back till it meets 

the foundation, and consequently diminishins _ 

length, from north to sc - 

aboat one hundred yards, when • eadicular •: ata the 

marsh, and then shoot : forming a_ :iost impo.s- 

around, even with the utmost caution and coolness. I 
round this seemingly impassa. - 

- - 
of stone under foot- 0.. - hi 

fiat n>: - _ . .-_--•-..- 

thick, with a passage between it aad 
passage, behind that irr. . 
versan- • 

::.-- :•-:*..■- .j: ::' tjte ;^esr.._ . ■..:■'. zr.xs.- v - r^:ri_:e .._-_; :-<■:...; v.- ;.-_-.- 
available on- z^-zli^-e. 

tual stand there aga ghat of assailants. Nothing bat starvation cooid have sub- 

dued men thus guarded, on e _ a weil for the 

judgment of the formidable p iiaamgt who Cmnmnj up. gha ' — rr 

of danger. 

Numerous cleft3 and fissures were visible, along the craggy front of these towering 
rocks; from which occasionally the mmi dd greet 

golden solidaga, u: - yaaag ■ of the 

rock itself, and necessarily riiminntive, on arm—a _itenance provided 

for its support. 

• beef and of fowls, aad also pare i of pipes, were found in or ^w the 
main cavern : one pipe-stem, very snugly stuck in a chink, seemed to have been pat 
there bv some on- .eisure, some thr- 

A k i — point of rocks, previoosiv described, at 

about iw yards north of the cavern : wheeling around whose evergreen summit, or 
perched upon aa*n» verdant aaaghs i two loquacious crows ; the ■ 

ing creatures that appeal ;e seeming like ' 

nels. heaping _ - the moody spat. 

This nag dar i - - .s above the marsh , receding westward 

cessive elevations, socir -■;■ many rough aad r. 

Boa summit of which is I 

- ire gloomy woo<: • :_sshapen crags, and i 

scenery, wefl calculated to awaken in the mind ideas of a rornar 
citinj character. 

From the brow of feVes some of their vertical i 

" :ould safelv watch the eaaaa » 

my, from aeai 

whenc- _ ■ _- 

unnoticed b-. . 

aa undoubt • 

> - • . ' 

land, on its eastern edge ; the one rsaaai ■ . . 



476 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

and the two separated, almost immediately in front of the cavern, by a continuation of 
the marsh eastward, and an outlet of the Big Muckshaw, also about five rods wide, from 
point to point 

South of this, two or three miles, along the Pequest, was a tory neighborhood, whither 
Moody resorted clandestinely, with his attendants ; and whence supplies were secretly 
furnished them, when the keen lookout of the whigs above rendered it impolitic for them 
to be prowling about far from their retreat. 

Many stories are related about this man, most of which are undoubtedly true ; though 
perhaps some of them have been colored, and a little exaggerated, by frequent telling. 

It is related that, one cold night in winter, he suddenly entered the dwelling of Mr. 
Ogden, who had, a 6hort time previous, moved up from the lower part of the state, and 
located himself in the vicinity of the present village of Sparta. He robbed the house 
of considerable valuable plate, and searched for money ; but was disappointed in not ob- 
taining the amount he appeared to have anticipated being in the old gentleman's pos- 
session. He then took him out back of the house, and forced him to take an oath r "~' t . 
to make known bis visit until sufficient time had elapsed for himself and p '' - .»■»—»»' 
to escape pursuit. One or more hired men, however, who had been coi — ■ .„,* in the 
upper part of the log-house, and who were not bound by their master's oath, immediately 
upon their departure sounded the alarm ; and a small party of the neighbors forthwith 
gave chase. They came very near overtaking them next morning ; lor they tracked 
them through the snow to where they had lain in their blankets over night, and where 
their fires were still burning when discovered. They tracked the plunderers to Goshen, 
in the 6tate of New York, and there recovered some of the booty which had been taken 
away. The whigs in and around Newton would occasionally get incensed at Moody, 
on account of his daring acts, and prepare schemes to catch him ; the endeavors to put 
which into successful operation were termed " Moody hunting." 

On one of these occasions, they supposed they had got their wary antagonist cooped 
up in the house of an individual suspected of being tinctured with toryism, and who 
lived near what is now called Eden Farm, about three miles ENE. of Newton village. 
Here they searched every nook and cranny, stuck pitchforks into the hay and straw 
heaps, but no Moody was discovered ; who nevertheless afterward emerged from beneath 
the floor, where he had been snugly packed away in straw, to tarry until his hunters had 
withdrawn from the premises. 

There is an old lady, now residing in this village, who, according to report, one dark 
and stormy night, although but in the early part of her teens then, mounted a horse, and 
rode some 12 or 16 miles, to warn him of a plan to apprehend him, which was shortly 
to have been put in execution. 

On another occasion, just as the whigs were on the point of springing upon him and 
his band, a negro conveyed intelligence of their designs, and Moody, with his men, nar- 
rowly escaped ; the bread which was baking for him, and the other provisions wliich 
were prepared, falling into their hands. After this he left this section altogether. 

About midnight, once, he made his appearance by the jailer's bedside, and demanded 
the key of the jail. This the jailer had previously declared he would not surrender to 
him, if the old tory should attempt to release the prisoners ; but his wife said, " Poor 
Jemmy trembled like a leaf, and handed over that key without resistance." He then 
unlocked the doors, and set the prisoners at liberty ; two of whom were condemned to 
death. After this he paraded his men in front of the jail, and commanded three long, 
loud cheers to be given, as he proclaimed a general jail-delivery, in the name of King 
George the Third. 

An old rusty key, supposed to be the onQ obtained by Moody, was found, some few 
years since, in the woods, on a hill, just to the left hand as you enter the village from 
the north. One of the prisoners, after his release, being unacquainted with the village 
and the surrounding country, wandered about all night, within its precincts ; and in 
the morning secreted himself in an old hollow log, in the woods then standing upon the 
hill, just out of the village, and running along the western side of Love-lane. 

A party out after raccoons, in that direction, hearing their dogs bark steadily, in one 
spot, hastened thither, and, instead of a 'coon, found they had holed a man ; whom, up- 
on examination, they concluded to make game of, and therefore marched him back to 
his old quarters. He was subsequently hung, in front of the jail, where the surrogate's 
office now stands ; being then condemned to die, for robbing a gentleman's house and self, 
in the neighborhood of Belvidere. In this matter Moody was actually more just than 
the law, and the prisoner's cause better than his fortune ; for it eventually turned out 
that he was innocent of the crime imputed to liim. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



477 



He died asserting his innocence, and declaring his firm belief that time would vindi- 
cate him from the charge. The tormented wretch, who had actually committed the 
deed, and brought death upon a guiltless head, finally, on his deathbed, acknowledged 
his own criminality, and exculpated the other from all blame. 

While the American army lay at Morristown, and an officer was drilling some troops 
not long enlisted, a man, very shabbily dressed, mounted on an old broken-down nag, 
one day was seen riding carelessly along before the lines, like a simple-hearted and 
rather soft-headed rustic, not over- well supplied either with worldly sense or substance. 
Suspicion at length induced the belief that there was more about that old horse, and 
his awkwardly-inquisitive rider, than at first view one would conjecture. One of the 
soldiers thought he had seen that face before, and that a recognition was only prevented 
by the deep disguise of a crafty spy, thus openly reconnoitring their ranks. A horseman 
was soon dispatched to escort him back. Moody, for he was the suspicious charac- 
ter on whose track he was sent, shot him dead as he came up to him, dragged him 
into the woods out of sight, and once more narrowly escaped, by secreting himself in 
a contiguous swamp. It is said that he and a companion, in attempting to cross over 
the river into New York, to the English, were arrested at length, conveyed to Morris- 
town, and there hung, as traitors and spies. Tiiis last is somewhat doubtful, but still 
it may be true. 

Moody is believed to have been originally from Kingwood township, in the county of 
Hunterdon, and employed by the British to obtain recruits, in this section, of such as 
were favorable to Great Britain. He likewise was to act as a spy upon the movements 
of the whigs, and to check and overawe them, by a show of opposition in their midst ; 
by making divisions and difficulties close at hand, and thereby drawing off their atten- 
tion and assistance from the colonial army. 




Central View in Lafayette. 

Lafayette received its name at the time of the late visit of the 
Marquis de Lafayette to America, and was the first place in the 
Union named after that nobleman. It is situated upon the line of 
Newton and Frankford, and is divided into two portions, called re- 
spectively Upper and Lower Lafayette. The above view was taken 
in the lower village, which is compactly and neatly built. Lafay- 
ette contains 4 stores, a large grist and a saw mill ; 2 iron foun- 
dries, one of which, " the Lafayette Fatory," employs about 40 men ; 
an academy, 1 Baptist and 1 Methodist church, and 43 dwellings. 

The first mill built in the county was erected in this place many 
years before the revolution. It was a grist-mill constructed of logs. 
In olden times an Indian war-path leading to the Minisink settle- 
ments passed through the SW. part of the village, by what is called 
the Indian Spring, and through the Indian Field, where flints and 
other relics are occasionally found. When Washington with his 



478 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

army left Morristown for Newburg their route lay through this vil- 
lage. On the road between here and Newton, on the farm of Mr. 
William English, is the grave of a soldier who died on the march. 

In the summer of 1842 there died in this vicinity an eccentric 
negro man, called Col. Joe, at the advanced age of 113 years. 
Some thirty or forty years since the colored people were accus- 
tomed to annually assemble from 40 or 50 miles around, generally 
on the 4th of July, on the banks of the Delaware, to the number of 
two or three hundred, and have military parades. The colonel, 
being a leading man among them, and having served in the French 
and revolutionary wars, was generally appointed commander ; an 
office he filled with due military pomp and dignity. In the evening, 
after the parade, the females would join, and a general dance and 
frolic close the festivities of the day. The colonel had been a slave, 
but at the time of his death was free. He was a character of con- 
siderable notoriety, had an uncommon talent for relating stories, 
and as his life was one of varied incident, his biography would 
doubtless furnish an amusing if not instructive chapter. 

Andover, 6 miles S. of Newton, contains a store, grist-mill, a 
Baptist church, and a few dwellings. 



SANDISTON. 

The average length of this township is about 7 miles, breadth 6 
miles ; bounded NE. by Montague ; SE. by Wantage, Frankford, 
and Newton ; SW. by Walpack, and W. by the Delaware. There 
are in Sandiston, 9 schools, 279 scholars. Pop. 1209. 

The Blue mountain runs through the eastern part ; the other 
portions of the township are generally level and fertile. The two 
main branches of the Flatkill enter the township on the north, and 
unite near the southern boundary. Dingman's bridge crosses the 
Delaware from this township. Peter's Valley in the western part, 
14 miles NW. of Newton, is a thriving village, containing a Method- 
ist church and 15 or 20 dwellings. 



STILLWATER. 

Stillwater was formed from Hardwick, Warren co., in 1824. It 
is 7 miles long, with an average width of 5 miles ; bounded NE. by 
Newton, SE. by Green, SW. by Hardwick, Warren co., and NW. 
by Walpack. There are in the township, 3 stores, 4 grist-m., and 3 
saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $32,675 ; 12 schools, and 300 scholars. 
Pop. 1476. 

The surface is generally hilly, and the Blue mountain runs on the 
NW. boundary. New Paterson, on Swartwout's Pond, 5 miles W. 
of Newton, is a small but thriving village which has sprung into 
existence within a few years. It contains a store, an extensive 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 479 

tannery, 2 saw-mills, and about 20 dwellings. Stillwater, 7 miles 
SW. of Newton, on the Paulinskill, contains 2 stores, a large grist- 
mill, an academy, a Presbyterian church, and about 20 dwellings. 

Swartwout's Pond,* a beautiful sheet of water, near the NE. boundary of 
the township, is about 3 miles long, and 1 broad. It derives its name from 
a man by the name of Swartwout, who in the time of the French and Indian 
war lived close to the northerly edge of the pond, in what is now a rich and 
beautiful plain, just south of the village of New Paterson. Swartwout was 
an officer in the British colonial service, and by reason of his active service 
against the French and their Indian allies, drew upon himself the vengeance 
of the latter. 

At that time only a few dwellings (log-houses) were to be found in the 
township of Stillwater ; and perhaps none, exceedingly few at any rate, in 
Newton, and the other townships of Sussex county, excepting Sandiston or 
Montague, and even there it was not populous. A few families had recently 
settled in Stillwater, the Hunt, Harker, and Shafer — possibly a few others 
in the neighborhood — but almost strictly speaking, this county was a wilder- 
ness. 

One of the Hunt family, and the head of the Harker family, father of Mr. 
Samuel Harker, who still lives on or near the old homestead, and who is 
quite a sensible old man, had gained the particular ill-will of the Indians 
for taking strong ground against them. It appears that a party of Indians 
from Pennsylvania had determined on capturing these three men, viz : 
Thomas Hunt, Harker, and Swartwout. They accordingly crossed the 
Delaware, near where Dingman's bridge now is, and in the evening reached 
the log-house of Hunt ; having travelled about 15 miles on the Jersey side 
of the river. 

They were discovered before they reached the house, soon enough for a. 
young man, Thomas Hunt, and a negro, (the only persons then in the house,) 
to shut and fasten the door, and secure themselves from immediate capture. 
The negro was faithfully occupied in his legitimate calling, of sawing cat- 
gut before a good cheerful fire, for the edification, probably, of his young 
companion, and his own amusement, when these prowling sons of the forest 
disturbed their quietude and silenced the merry strains of the violin, and 
that, too, most effectually ; for no sooner was Cuffee aware of his danger, 
than he threw his fiddle into the fire, and awaited in trembling suspense the 
result of the unwelcome visit. 

The Indians finally succeeded in gaining admittance, by threatening to 
burn down the house and those in it, unless they soon found peaceable en- 
trance. They proceeded with their captives to Harker's, the elder brother 
of Hunt, whom they came to take, being away from home attending to his 
duties as an officer of the colonial troops. There were about a dozen men 
at this time at Harker's, his own help, and some who had been on a frolic 
during the day. The Indians, on reconnoitring, thought it imprudent to at- 
tack them, and went away. They were discovered to have been at the 
house the following morning, by their tracks in a newly ploughed field, and 
their number, by the same means, ascertained to be thirteen. 

From Harker's they returned towards the Delaware, by a route around 
the southerly end of the Great Pond, when in five miles they arrived at 
Swartwout's residence. In this the cunning of the Indians was evinced. 

* Communicated by Nelson Robinson, Esq. of Newton. 



480 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

Meditating Swartwout's destruction when they started, they passed hy to 
commence their depredations further off from their homes first, so as to 
arouse no antagonists between themselves and the river to cut off their re- 
treat ; and perhaps the chance of Swartwout's discovering them at an ear- 
lier hour in the evening, if he had then approached his house, and being 
thereby enabled to do some serious execution among them, might have been 
another reason for delaying their plans against him. But having, stealthily 
and unnoticed, passed through the forests to the extent of their proposed in- 
cursion, and accomplished their object as far as practicable, they trace their 
way back, leaving their outrages all behind, and not on ground which they 
must repass. 

Mrs. Swartwout, soon after their approach to the house, without a thought 
of danger, went out to the milk-house, and was instantly shot down. Swart- 
wout himself, being thus apprized of his danger, sprang for his loaded rifle and 
musket successively, and killed two or three and wounded others, before he 
was captured. After which they conveyed him to a place about one mile 
NW. of his dwelling, and fastened one end of his entrails to a tree, (the 
stump of which was shown to me,) and then he was tortured to death, after 
having been compelled to witness the cruel destruction of a large family of 
children, except two, a son and a daughter. They beat him, lacerated him, 
and forced him to wind out his bowels around the tree by walking around it. 
What devils at revenge ! 

After this horrid display of savage ferocity the party proceeded on their 
return. On recrossing the Delaware one of them lost his rifle, which slip- 
ped from his grasp between the logs of the raft ; and the depth of the water, 
together with their haste to get out of the white man's reach, obliged them 
to leave it there, where it must still remain, the only rifle yet known to be 
in our midst, loaded by one of these warriors of the forest, who, about a cen- 
tury ago, dealt out ruin and wide-spread desolation among the pioneers of 
these then untamed wilds. 

Hunt and the negro were taken to the French in Canada, whence the 
negro made his escape shortly after back to this country. Hunt was three 
years after exchanged for some French captives. He returned here, lived 
to an advanced age, and related the perils of his boyhood many a time to 
knots of listeners, who would gather around him to hear the thrilling ac- 
count of days gone by. 

He said after his capture he was for a time at a loss to know how to get 
along with the Indians, but he thought he would try to please them by act- 
ing as near like them as he could in eating and other respects. This suc- 
ceeded, and they consequently treated him well. The little son and daugh- 
ter of the murdered Swartwout were brought up by the Indians. The girl 
married a chief among them, and the boy, becoming attached to the Indian 
life, chose to live with them. Upon arriving at manhood, he having learned 
about his parentage, visited the home of his youth ; but civilization had lost 
its charms for the adopted child of the woods, and he returned to spend his 
days with the inhabitants of the forest — an Indian in all, save birth, features, 
and complexion. 



VERNON. 

The greatest length of this township is 1 1 m. ; breadth 9 m. It 
is bounded NE. by part of Orange co., N. Y. ; SE. by West Milford, 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 481 

Passaic co. ; SW. by Hardiston, and W. by Wantage. There are 
2 forges, 3 grist-m., 4 saw-m. ; cap. in manufac. $14,210 ; 12 schools, 
371 scholars. Pop. 2,395. 

The greater portion of the township is covered with the Wawa- 
yanda, Wallkill, and Pochunk mountains, on the summits of which 
are several small lakes. They are very lofty, and contain abun- 
dance of iron-ore. The township is well watered by numerous 
streams, of which the Wallkill Hows on its western boundary. 
Near the south part of Vernon commences the marshy tract, known 
as " the drowned lands of the Wallkill ;" so called from being an- 
nually submerged by freshets. The valley of this stream is nar- 
row, until it crosses into the state of New York, where the marsh 
extends five miles in width, through which the river flows, with 
a scarcely perceptible current. No successful effort has been made 
to wholly drain this tract. Wherever it has been done, it discloses 
a soil of rich vegetable mould. The following is part of a pub- 
lished article on the mineralogical character of this region, by 
Dr. Samuel Fowler, a scientific gentleman of this vicinity : 

Perhaps in no quarter of the globe is there so much found to interest the mineralogist 
as in the white crystalline calcareous valley, commencing' at Mounts Adam and Eve, in 
the county of Orange and state of New York, about three miles from the line of the 
state of New Jersey ; and continuing thence through Vernon, Hamburg, Franklin, 
Sterling, Sparta, and Byram, a distance of about 25 miles, in the county of Sussex, 
N. J. This limestone is highly crystalline, containing no organic remains ; and is the 
great imbedding matrix of all the curious and interesting minerals found in this valley. 
"When burned, it produces lime of a superior quality. A considerable quantity of this 
stone is burned into lime, near Hamburg ; and, when carted to the towns below, as 
Paterson, Newark, &c, is sold for $1 per bushel. It is principally used in masonry — 
for whitewashing, cornice-work, and wall of a fine, hard finish ; and is considered supe- 
rior to the best Rhode Island lime. Some varieties, particularly the granular, furnish a 
beautiful marble. It is often white, with a slight tinge of yellow, resembling the Parian 
marble, from the island of Paros ; at other times clouded black, sometimes veined black, 
and at other times arborescent. 

Hamburg is a flourishing manufacturing village, on the south 
boundary of the township, 13 miles NE. of Newton. It contains 
1 forge, 1 blast-furnace, 2 large grist-m., 2 saw-m., 4 stores, an 
academy, a Baptist church, and about 40 dwellings. Vernon is 
beautifully situated, between the Pochunk and Wawayanda moun- 
tains, in the northern part of the township. It contains 2 stores, 
1 grist and 1 saw m., 3 blacksmiths, 3 wagon-makers, 1 tannery, 
a few dwellings, and a Methodist church. The surrounding coun- 
try is peopled with thriving agriculturists ; and, from the village, 
an extensive and beautiful prospect is had, to the north, of the ad- 
joining county of Orange. 



WALPACK. 

This township has an average length of 8 miles, with a width 
of 3 miles. It is bounded NE. by Sandiston, SE. by Stillwater, 
SW. by Pahaquarry, (Warren co.,) and NW. by the Delaware. 

61 



482 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

There are in the township 2 grist, 2 saw m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$10,075 ; 4 schools, 120 scholars. Pop. 728. 

The Blue mountain covers a large part of the eastern portion ; 
between this and the Delaware the soil is fertile, and productive 
in wheat. The Flatkill runs centrally through the township, and 
empties into the Delaware, at the southern boundary. Van Camp's 
brook, which takes its rise from a pond, on the summit of the Blue 
mountain, courses through the southern part. Flatbrookville is a 
small a illage at the junction of the Flatkill with the Delaware, 
18 miles west of Newton. It contains a store, a grist and saw m. 
and about 20 dwellings. 



WANTAGE. 

Wantage is 11 miles long, and about 7 broad. It is bounded N. 
by part of Orange co., (New York,) E. by Vernon, S. by Hardis- 
ton and Frankford, and W. by Montague. The Wallkill river, 
which runs on the eastern boundary, and its branches, water the 
township. The township contains 11 stores, 10 grist, 8 saw-m. ; 
cap. in manufac. $73,925 ; 22 schools, 573 scholars. Pop. 3,908. 

There are also in Wantage nine churches — 3 Presbyterian, 3 
Baptist, 1 Congregational, 1 Methodist, and 1 Unitarian. On the 
Clove creek there are, within a distance of less than 5 miles, 4 
valuable mill-establishments ; at each of which there is a grist- 
in., plaster-m., and saw-m. There are also a fulling-m., carding- 
fac, and clover-m., at the lower establishment, which is near the 
village of Deckertown. 

The following description of this township was communicated 
for this work by a gentleman now residing there. 

Wantage comprises that portion of the general Kittanny valley which lies between 
the Pochunk mountain on the east, and the Blue mountain on the west. This part of 
the great valley just named is not a level surface, but traversed from north to south by 
several ranges of low hills, with vales of considerable width between. These sub-valleys 
are drained by two streams, which unite near the Wallkill, and empty into that river 
These streams run almost exactly in opposite directions, and together form nearly a 
straight line from north to south through the township. The northern stream flows 
from a romantic and beautiful pond near the New York state line, and runs south 
through the exceedingly rich valley, called the Clove, a distance of 6 or 7 miles to the 
village of Deckertown ; here it meets and unites with the Papakating, (commonly called 
" The Peper-cotton,") a stream of about equal length and size, but rising southward in 
the adjoining town of Frankford. This stream runs almost due north until it unites with 
the Clove creek just described, after which it turns east, and after running about a mile, 
empties into the Wallkill. The natural scenery of this region is rarely surpassed. The 
Pochunk on the east is a low oval-shaped mountain, clothed, in many places, with cul- 
tivated fields to the summit. The Blue mountain, on the opposite side of the general 
valley, is higher and more precipitous. From many points on both these mountains the 
most lovely prospects of rural scenery appear. From the farm of Joseph Little, Esq., 
on the top of the Pochunk, is one of the best of these views. From this spot, the eye 
comprehends at one glance about 75 miles of the length of the Blue mountain. This 
extensive view stretches north nearly to the Catskill, and south to the Delaware Water 
Gap. Intermediate of this picturesque margin, is spread out the entire width of the 
Kittanny valley. This vast landscape is continuously intermingled with woodlands 
and flourishing fields. Villages and farm-houses are thickly dotted over the whole. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 



483 



The season when this prospect is most lovely is, when " the fields are white unto har- 
vests'—or rather yellow and green, for these are the predominant colors at that delight- 
ful period. The beholder gazes on the commingled hues — the deep green meadow 
covering the long and narrow vales, meandered through by the pure and glittering 
streams that flow slowly and silently between their low and grassy banks. Along the 
gently sloping hill-sides, and on their summits, the fields of ripe grain present their hues 
of waving gold. Again, the numerous flocks of large and glossy cattle are luxuriating 
in the pastures of deep and blooming clover. All these rich charms of nature are spread 
out, like a painted canvass, over the entire township. This region is celebrated for the 
vigorous health and blooming beauty of its young females, which is thought to arise, in 
some measure, from their pastoral occupation in the employment of the dairy. At the 
approach of evening, flocks of those beautiful daughters of industry are seen going forth 
to milk the large droves of cows, so that the romantic lover of classic simplicity might 
imagine that he was transferred on the backward car of time to the sunny plains of an- 
eient Mantua. 




Southwest Vieic of Deckertoivn. 

The thriving village of Deckertown is situated 13 miles N. of 
Newton, on the E. bank of the Deep Clove river. The above view 
was taken near the residence of Matthew H. Cooper, Esq., at the 
southwestern entrance into the village. The Presbyterian church 
is seen on the left, and the Deckertown academy on the right. 
There is a Baptist church near the village, and the village itself 
contains 4 stores, 1 fulling, 1 clover, 1 saw, and 2 grist mills, a va- 
riety of mechanic shops, about 50 dwellings, and a population of 
near 500. Beemersville, 5 miles W. of Deckertown, contains 3 
stores, a grist and a saw mill, 1 Baptist and 1 Presbyterian church, 
and about 20 dwellings. The Clove is an agricultural vicinity 2^ 
miles N. of Deckertown, where there is a Presbyterian church. 

The annexed items, relating principally to this section of country, 
were furnished by Mr. William Rankin, the principal of the high- 
school at Deckertown. 

In the latter part of the 17th century, some Huguenots, or French protcstants, who 
had been exiled to Holland, emigrated to America, and passing up the Hudson river, 
settled at the mouth of the Wallkill river, near the present site of Kingston. In after 
years, individuals from this settlement, which was composed of French and Hollanders. 
in their explorations, passed down the Mamakating valley to the Delaware river, and form 



484 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

ed a settlement at the mouth of the Navisink. About the year 1740, a man by the name 
of Peter Decker, a Hollander by descent, passed over the Kittanny or Blue mountain, 
from the Navisink settlement, in pursuit of good land upon which to settle. He descend- 
ed into the valley, now the town of Wantage, and selecting the place where Deckertown 
now stands, built a house, probably the first white man's abode in the township. This 
house stood near the site of the present tavern of Horace Vibbert, Esq. This Peter 
Decker, the original pioneer of Wantage, was grandfather to the present Bowdewine 
Decker, Esq., of the Clove, and was the predecessor of almost all the large and respecta- 
ble connection of people of the same name now in the township. A short time after 
Decker, two other individuals of the Navisink settlement also crossed the Blue moun- 
tain in pursuit of tillable land ; these were by the names of Winfield and Courtright. 
Alter making diligent search throughout the Wantage vallej', they could find, as they sup- 
posed, but little land fit for cultivation ; exlubiting an instance of the Hollander's error, 
in judging of the quality of land in a country differing in aspect from his own. It seem- 
ed these low Dutch people, on first coming to this country, thought no land worth culti- 
vating but level fiats. Winfield selected a spot of about eleven acres on the farm now 
owned by Thomas I. Ludlum, Esq. This he supposed might be worth clearing for the 
purpose of growing wheat and corn. Courtright found 5 acres nearer the mountain, 
which he thought might also pay the labor of cultivation. From this time emigrations 
continued to be made into this valley, and additions to the infant settlement. 

In the year 1770, a few Baptist iamilies from the New England states settled where 
Hamburgh now is, and built the first houses there. They were of the names of Marsh, 
Hart, and Southworth. They selected one of their number, a Mr. Marsh, to be their 
preacher, and thus laid the foundation of the first Baptist church in the county. In 
1777, the Rev. Mr. Nicholas Cox, from Philadelphia, became the preacher in this Bap- 
tist church. Two houses of public worship had now been erected, one at Hamburgh, 
and the other at Augusta. In about 17p2, the house at Hamburgh was taken down and 
rebuilt on the site where the present Baptist church stands, near the village of Decker- 
town. In 1783, the Rev. Mr. Finn became pastor of this church ; in 1765, the Rev. Silas 
Southworth; in 1816 the Rev. Mr. Hall; in 1821, the Rev. Mr. Hagan ; in 1626, the 
Rev. Mr. Fletcher ; in 1832, the Rev. Mr. Jackson ; in 1837, the Rev. Mr. Moore ; in 
1840, the Rev. Mr. Fay ; in 1842, the Rev. Mr. Leach. 

During the French and Indian war, a Mr. Crowell, yet living in this township, being 
about 88 years old, remembers that, when a child, his father was called out in defence of 
the settlement against the Indians, who were lurking through this then thinly populated 
region, for the purpose of massacring helpless and unprotected families. His mother 
was left alone with some small children ; in the dark night, as they were preparing to go 
to bed, suddenly the dog broke out with that peculiar and terrific kind of barking which 
was but too well known by the settlers to be caused by the scent of Indians. This ven- 
erable old man yet distinctly remembers that moment of thrilling interest, when his 
mother, ' turning pale as a cloth,' (as he expresses it,) earnestly urged him, a small boy, 
to run out into the woods and hide, that he might save his life, for she could not escape 
with her infant children, but must remain in the house and be murdered with them ; but 
the little boy, refusing to go, clung round his mother's neck in floods of tears, declaring 
that he would die with her. The Indians, however, through cowardice, or for some other 
reason, did not approach the house. 

During the revolutionary war, there lived near the mouth of the Navisink a Mr. Van 
Etten. He was a blacksmith, and on a certain day was working in his shop with his 
black man, who was helping him, when they beheld a party of hostile Indians approach- 
ing ! What was to he done ? The negro was not in much danger, for the Indians 
scarcely ever murdered negroes, but the master ! There was but a moment. The black 
man urged him to creep up the chimney, which, being an old-fashioned one, was large. 
In a moment the Indians entered the shop, eagerly looking round for its owner, but pay- 
ing very little attention to the black. At length, despairing of finding a victim, they 
commenced investigating the fixtures in the shop. After hammering a while on the an- 
vil, one of the party caught hold, and began blowing the bellows, starting the smoke and 
dusk briskly up the chimney. Stop, stop, stop, stop that blaw-muck, (as Pompey and 
his master called the bellows in Dutch,) expostulated the faithful black, at the same time 
catching the Indian by the arm. The savage took it all in good part, relinquished his 
hold on the handle of the bellows, and in a few minutes, with all his party, carelessly 
left the premises. When the Indians were clear gone, Mr. V. crawled down from his 
sooty retreat, thanked Pompey for his faithful conduct, and both, well satisfied with the 
result of the enterprise, set in to finish their day's work. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 485 

At a time when the Indians were known to be prowling: through the woods with hos- 
tile intentions, a settler in the town of Wantage, being in need of provision for his fami. 
ly, ventured into the forest in pursuit of game with his gun and dog. He unfortunately 
lost his knowledge of courses, and wandered in the woods, unable to find his way home, 
till night came on. He crept into a large hollow tree, with his gun and dog. When all 
were about prepared to go to sleep, the dog became suddenly agitated, and broke forth in 
violent barking. The man well knew that this unguarded conduct of his fellow-lodger 
would betray their retreat to all Indians within a mile round. To cut the throat of the 
dog would be the only effectual barrier to his dangerous indiscretions. But then this 
would be dishonorable, and not very just ; for, although the barking was ill-timed, he 
knew it was certainly well meant. So he resorted to expostulations and entreaties with 
the dog, and to holding his mouth shut. At length all became pretty quiet again. Many 
anxious hours had now passed away in listening to every rustling motion of the sur- 
rounding bramble — when suddenly again the dog's every nerve quivered ; and as he ut- 
tered a loud bark and growl, a most terrific snort of a horse echoed through the gloomy 
woods. This sent a most thrilling panic through the very souls of the old oak's trem- 
bling tenants ; for the Indians were known frequently to travel through the forest on horse- 
back. All was fearful expectation and watchful anxiety, till day-break brought relief by 
exhibiting several horses feeding at a distance on the natural grass of the woods, and 
enabling the lost wanderers, during the course of the day, to find their way safely home. 

A Mr. Decker had gone out into a field which lay some distance from his house, and 
on elevated ground. Ere he was aware, two Indians were creeping stealthily around 
him, intending to intercept his retreat homeward, and capture him. On his making an 
attempt to escape, both Indians fired their guns at him, but fortunately missed. A chase 
now commenced of some quarter of a mile — Decker to reach his house, and the Indians 
to overtake him previous to his gaining that point. The family of Decker observed the 
pursuit, but did not at once recognise the characters, when the eldest son, a boy of 14 
years old, eyeing narrowly the foremost of the three individuals, exclaimed, " That's dad !" 
and quick as lightning snatched the old loaded musket, ran into an orchard towards 
which the chase was proceeding, and placed himself behind a tree, by which the runners 
soon passed. One of the Indians was now almost at the heels of Decker. As they 
passed the boy behind the tree, he pulled trigger, but the old musket snapped. Instantly 
the Indian stopped, hearing the snap of the gun, and looking round about, not discover- 
ing the boy, yet apprehensive that danger was nigh, he turned and fled, leaving Decker 
to reach his house and family in safety. 

The additional particulars given below respecting the history 
of Wantage were furnished by an aged and worthy clergyman of 
the place. 

The early settlers of this town are of a mixed origin, some of German, 
and others of New England descent. It would perhaps be as near the truth 
to say, that some of the first families that emigrated to this region were de- 
scended from the confines of France and Germany, claiming an alliance 
with both countries, or either, as the locality of their ancestors might de- 
termine.* We are thus brought into close affinity with the Huguenots and 
Waldenses, as well as the Pilgrims of New England, and the well-known 
Wallkill marks the line, and commemorates the name of freemen of whom 
the world was not worthy. One hundred years carries us back to the 
period when the fierce Algic tribes claimed our fertile fields as their own 
hunting-grounds, and dense forests waved in primitive glory, and the deer, 
the bear, and panther bled, where now milk and honey flow. 

The lady by whose side I now sit, (Mrs. Catharine Vanauken,) well 
remembers, and relates with intense feelings, the famous battle of Minisink, 
that clad in the weeds of mourning the young colony, stretching from Wan- 
tage over Orange co., N. Y., along the foot of the Kittanny mountain. 

* As the family names of Neapos, Consauls, Winfields, Vananwigens, Wildrichs, 
Westfalls, Westbrooks, Jobes, Shumars, Deckers, Vanaukens, Fitzworths, Meddaughs, 
Cuddabachs, and others, sufficiently indicate. 



486 SUSSEX COUNTY. 

This massacre of the whites was announced in the morning, when the set- 
tlement on the Navisink, where three states join, was assembled to pay their 
last respects to a deceased neighbor. As the procession left the Ma-hak-a- 
mack meeting-house, the smoke of their barns and dwellings, mills and 
church, just vacated by the pastor and his little flock, sufficiently marked 
the track of a savage band approaching with hostile intent. The name of 
Brant, their leader, was a terror to the whites, as when the lion is known to 
prowl about an African hamlet. But an occurrence took place here which 
shows that a spark of sympathy still glowed in the fierce warrior's heart. 
His party had invaded the school where, at a stroke, the hopes of the set- 
tlement were to be crushed and annihilated. Jeremiah Vanauken the 
teacher was taken from the house, and, at about half a mile, killed. 
Some of the little boys were already cleft with the tomahawk ; others had 
betaken themselves to the woods for concealment from the merciless pur 
suers, while their little sisters stood by the wayside, near the corpse of their 
teacher, trembling and weeping, not knowing whether death or captivity 
awaited them, when suddenly a brawny Indian approached, and with his 
brush of black paint dashed it across their aprons, bidding them to " hold 
up the mark if they saw an Indian, and they would be safe," and with a 
savage yell he plunged into the forest and disappeared. It was Brant. 
The little ones were safe. The Indian saw the mark, and passed on. But 
their brothers, could not this sign be made to avail for them too ? It could, 
by a process simple, innocent, and childlike, that would render their own 
escape doubly joyous, and that beguiled many an after hour of sweet con- 
templation, and still lights up with expressions of delight the countenance 
of my respected informant, after the lapse of more than half a century. 
The dispersed children were soon found and collected, over whom their 
little sisters threw their outer garment, and again held up their apron, the 
palladium of safety, while the Indians passed and repassed. They were 
spared, to the joy of their parents and friends. Mrs. Catharine Vanauken's 
mother, Leah Vanauken, escaped the fury of the Indians by concealing 
herself in a ditch.* The next day left the bones of some 80 of the inhabit- 
ants of Minisink to bleach in the valley of the Delaware. This occurred 
in July of 1781, about 62 years ago. After about 40 years had elapsed, 
in 1822, their bones were collected, and, on the 4th of July, interred at Go- 
shen, Orange co., N. Y. 

Would it not be well for our young ladies to spend a little time in re- 
flecting upon the perils, the toils, and hardships, endured by their fathers 
and mothers, to gain the patrimony, the luxuries, refinements, and privi- 
leges, with which their daughters are now so richly blessed ? Think of the 
day when females put on their hats and paraded in the forts thrown about 
their dwellings — when they beat the drum, when they handled the rifle, at 
least to awe their savage foes, and when they rode miles as an express, 
through the lonely forest of the Kittanny, to give the alarm to the distant 
settlements upon the east of the Blue mountain, while their fathers, hus- 
bands, and brothers, were facing the dangers of an Indian warfare. Could 
such reflections fail to inspire the sentiments uttered by the Psalmist, " Our 
soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowler ; the snare is broken, 
and we are escaped ?" 



* Elijah Vanauken, father of D. Vanauken, was wounded slightly ; his uncle James 
Vanauken, and his own brother Jeremiah, were killed. 



SUSSEX COUNTY. 487 

It is about 60 years since the first church in Wantage, then known as the 
Clove church, was organized under the preaching of Rev. Von Ben Schoten, 
whose congregation then embraced Wantage, Montague, and Minisink. 
Perhaps few settlements can be named where the gospel has been preached 
with more success, and this region may be added to the many other in- 
stances recorded to attest that the covenant mercies of God have continued to 
roll down the line of the Huguenots, Waldenses, and Pilgrim Fathers, in a 
manner that fully verifies the promise of Him who said to Abraham, I will 
be " a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." 

Although Wantage has long been celebrated for the wealth of its inhabitants, it has 
not until recently fostered literature within its own precincts. Formerly, the wealthy 
citizens who wished to educate their sons and daughters, sent them off to boarding- 
schools in some different section of the country. Common schools were also in a low 
condition. No select school of any permanency had been sustained in the township 
until near the close of the year 1833, when an enterprise was undertaken by Wm. Ran- 
kin, in the village of Deckertown. A few circumstances relative to the establishment 
of the school at Deckertown, will serve to throw light on the subject of education in 
this region. When the above-named gentleman proposed to open a select school in the 
central and main village in this township at the time mentioned, so little interest was 
felt in the proposal, that he could procure no room but a small building about 14 feet 
square, in an inconvenient part of the village. This, however, he rented, and com- 
menced his first term with a single scholar ; and this lone pupil was not of the state of 
New Jersey, but from New York. This discouraging commencement did not arise 
from want of knowledge of, or confidence in the teacher, for he had been favorably 
known in the county for several years previous as a classical instructor. Neither was 
it because the inhabitants were averse to education ; but it stands as an illustration of 
the strength of habit on communities, and the difficulty of breaking over the barriers of 
long-continued custom. They had never fostered education within their own limits, 
and therefore they had no faith in this infant institution. It was universally looked on 
as a romantic and totally impracticable undertaking. But the school went on, and for 
the first week with one scholar only, who accompanied his preceptor to and from the 
school-room at regular hours, resembling a hen with one chicken. However, before the 
ensuing spring, the school numbered 20 scholars. One anecdote further concerning this 
school at its commencement, — when the school had been in operation about 2 months. 
The teacher had locked the school-room door one evening, and walked out of the village, 
and did not return till about eleven o'clock ; he was surprised to see his school-room 
lighted, knowing that he had left it locked. Upon approaching a window, be perceived 
the room to be filled with well-dressed, gentlemanly-looking men ; some standing, others 
seated round a table, which was almost covered with money of various kinds — all giving 
profound attention to the game that was in progress with cards. He then unlocked the 
door, and stepped in ; no seeming notice, however, was taken of him, and after ob- 
serving the scene for a few minutes, he observed to a gentleman standing near him, 
that he would be thankful if, when they were done using the room, they would leave it 
in good order. He then retired, and in the morning, upon returning, found the room 
divested of men, money, and table, the door locked — all in good condition. He subse- 
quently learned that this room had been the regular meeting-place of an extensive circle 
of gamblers, who met from time to time pursuant to their own appointments. They 
had assembled in the evening, found the door locked, obtained a key, opened the door, 
carried in a table, and constituted the last regular-built gambling scene that has, and, 
it is hoped, that ever will disgrace the village of Deckertown. 

The following is extracted from an advertisement in the Sussex Register of May 22, 
1843, and will serve to show the results of an institution which, ten years ago, we have 
seen struggling, under such adverse circumstances, for existence. 

" The Principal of the school at Deckertown commenced his career of instruction in 
this county about fifteen years ago, and since that period the youth that have been under 
his charge number about one thousand. Few years within this time have elapsed, 
without more or less of his pupils becoming prepared to enter college, or commence pro- 
fessional studies ; and a large proportion of the schools in the surrounding country have 
been, and are, conducted by teachers qualified from the same source of instruction. 
Few cases occur of a bias of mind so strong and exclusive towards a particular pursuit, 
as is evinced by this individual in his favorite occupation of instructing youth. This 



488 WARREN COUNTY. 

has been manifested from the increasing zeal and ardor which has existed in this insti- 
tution for the last year, to keep pace with the most recent and best methods of instruc- 
tion, and to cultivate an acquaintance with the most useful and interesting developments 
of science." 



WARREN COUNTY. 

Warren county was originally the southern part of Sussex co. : 
it was formed into a distinct county in 1824. It is about 32 miles 
long, with an average width of about 13 miles. It is bounded NE. 
by Sussex co., SE. by Hunterdon and Morris cos., and W. by the 
Delaware river. The county is well watered by many streams 
emptying into the Delaware ; among which are the Musconetcong, 
Pohatcong, Lopatcong, Pequest, and Paulinskill. The surface 
of the county is generally mountainous or hilly, with fertile val- 
leys intervening. The most prominent ranges are the Blue moun- 
tain on the NW., and the Musconetcong on the SW. boundary. 
There is a great variety of soil in the county, generally fertile ; 
and in the valleys of some of the streams peculiarly so. Lime is 
much used as a manure ; and some parts of the county are very 
productive in wheat. As a whole, this is one of the best agricul- 
tural districts in the state ; and husbandry is in an improving con- 
dition. The Morris canal commences at Philipsburg, on the Dela- 
ware, runs through the SE. tier of townships, and leaves the 
county at its NE. angle. The following is a list of the townships, 
which are ten in number : 

Franklin, Hope, Mansfield, 

Greenwich, Independence, Oxford, 

Hardwick, Knowlton, Pahaquarry. 

Harmony, 
The population of the county, in 1830, was 18,627 ; in 1840, 
20,366. 



FRANKLIN. 

Franklin was recently formed from Mansfield and Greenwich. 
It is about 5 miles square ; bounded NE. by Mansfield, SE. by 
Bethlehem, (Hunterdon co.,) W. by Greenwich, and NW. by Har- 
mony. There are in the township 6 schools, 440 scholars. Pop. 
1,348. 

The surface is mountainous, with broad fertile valleys. Broad- 
way and New Village, on the line of the Morris canal, in the NW. 
part of the township, contain each about 20 dwellings. Asbury, 
a flourishing village on the Musconetcong creek, about a mile from 
the base of the Musconetcong mountains, and 12 miles from Bel- 
videre, in a fertile limestone valley, contains 2 stores, 1 plaster, 1 



WARREN COUNTY. 489 

saw, 1 fulling, and 2 grist m., a woollen factory, several mechanics, 
a Methodist church, and about 40 dwellings. In olden times there 
was a grist-mill on the north side of the creek, and a dwelling on 
the site of Van Antwerp's mill ; and the place was called Hall's 
Mills. In 1800, the corner-stone of the old Methodist Episcopal 
church was laid, by the venerable Bishop Asbury, in honor of whom 
this village received its name. This was a small edifice, only 28 
by 30 feet. . It having been long in a dilapidated state, a new and 
handsome church, 38 by 48 feet, has recently been erected, with a 
neat steeple, and dedicated on the 22d of December, 1842. 

The following inscription, to the memory of one of the founders 
of this village, was copied from a monument in the graveyard ad- 
joining the Methodist church : 

Sacred to the memory of Col. William McCullough, who departed this life Feb. 9, 
1840, aged 81 years, 1 month, and 19 days. He was a friend and promoter of internal 
improvements ; a member of the legislative council, for a number of years ; served up- 
wards of thirty years as one of the judges of the court of common pleas, in Sussex and 
Warren counties. He attached himself to the Methodist Episcopal church in the year 
1786, and continued a useful member until his death. His end was peace. 

There is an excellent mineral spring near the NE. line of the 
township, said to nearly equal that of the celebrated Schooley's 
mountain, though not much frequented. 



GREENWICH. 

Greenwich is about 7 miles long, 6 wide ; and is bounded N. by 
Harmony, E. by Franklin, SE. by Alexandria, (Hunterdon co.,) and 
W. by the Delaware river. There are in the township 17 stores, 
4 flouring-m., 6 grist-m., 8 saw-m., 4 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. 
$127,900; 13 schools, 911 scholars. Pop. 2,902. Its surface is 
mountainous, with fertile valleys. 

Philipsburg, where the Morris canal connects with the Delaware, 
is a village containing about 35 dwellings, on the Delaware river, 
at the base of a high hill, opposite Easton, Penn., and 13 miles S. 
of Belvidere. The annexed view was taken from Lehigh hill, a bold 
bluff on the Pennsylvania side. Immediately beneath is seen the 
Lehigh river, at its junction with the Delaware and the Pennsyl- 
vania canal, which connects with the coal-regions of that state. 
Further on is the bridge across the Delaware — a splendid struc- 
ture, with stone piers, erected at an expense of about $80,000. On 
the right, part of Philipsburg, and on the left a portion of Easton, 
are shown. In the distance the Delaware is seen, for several 
miles, until lost to view by high, picturesque mountains. The 
scenery in this vicinity is uncommonly bold and beautiful. 

Stewartsville, a flourishing village, 13 miles from Belvidere, con- 
tains a neat academy, used as a place for public worship, several 
mechanic shops, stores, &c, and about 45 dwellings. Finesville, 
where there is a church, open to various denominations, near the 

62 



490 



WARREN COUNTY. 




View of the Bridge across the Delaware, at Philipsburg. 

SW. corner of the township, and Hughesville, both on the Musco- 
netcong creek, are small manufacturing villages, each containing 
about 20 dwellings. Reigle's Mills, Aliddleville, and Kennedy's, 
are smaller places. At the latter is a substantial stone Presby- 
terian church. Bloomsbury, 16 miles from Belvidere, on the county 
line, is described on page 243 of this volume. 



HARDWICK. 

Hard wick is about 10 miles long, with an average width of 4; 
and is bounded NE. by Stillwater and Green, (Sussex co.) — which 
two townships, previous to the formation of this county, were part 
of Hardwick — SE. by Independence, W. by Hope and Knowlton, 
and NW. by Pahaquarry. 

The face of the township is uneven, and the soil in the valleys 
fertile. The Blue mountain skirts on the NW. boundary, and the 
land in that section is stony. There are in the township 3 stores, 
1 cotton factory, 2 tanneries, 6 grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. in manu- 
fac. 832,800 ; 16 schools, 769 scholar?. Pop. 1,957. 

Johnsonburg is near the centre of Hardwick, on the stage-road 
from Newton to Easton, Pa., 15 miles from Belvidere, and 10 from 
Newton. In olden times it -was the seat of justice for Sussex co., 
and at an early period was called " the Log Jail" from the cir- 
cumstance of the jail being constructed of logs. Through the in- 
fluence of a large landholder, a member of the legislature, the 
county seat was removed to Newton about the year 1765. The 
village contains 2 stores, a grist-mill, a tannery, a coach manufac- 
tory, several mechanics, an Episcopal church, free for other de- 
nominations, and about 200 inhabitants. Marksboro, on the Pau- 
linskill, contains a grist, saw, clover, and plaster mill, a cotton 



WARREN COUNTY. 491 

factory, a Presbyterian church, and about 20 dwellings. The White 
Pond lies near this place : its sides and bottom are covered with a 
small white shell composed about one half of lime, and considered 
by some an excellent manure. Paulina, 2 miles W. of Marksboro, 
on the same stream, contains a store, tavern, grist-mill, carding- 
machine, tannery, &c, and 10 or 12 dwellings. The first white 
inhabitants who settled this township were the Greens, Hunts, 
Shafers, Dyers, Armstrongs, Wilsons, Lundys, &c, many of whose 
descendants still remain. 



HARMONY. 

Harmony was formed from Greenwich and Mansfield in 1839. It 
is about 6 miles long, 5 broad, and is bounded N. by Oxford, SE. by 
Franklin, S. by Greenwich, and W. by the Delaware river. The 
surface is generally hilly, and the soil in the valleys fertile. There 
are in the township, 2 liouring-m., 3 grist-m., and 4 saw-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $30,360 ; 6 schools, 38G scholars. Pop. 1,602. 

In the central part of the township, on the road from Belvidere 
to Easton, 7 miles from the former, and 5 from the latter, is a 
small village where there is a large Presbyterian church and about 
20 dwellings. This village is divided into two parts, called, re- 
spectively, Upper and Lower Harmony. Roxburgh, on the same 
road, 4 miles south of Belvidere, contains about a dozen dwellings, 
a foundry, grist-mill, &c. 



HOPE 



Hope was formed from Oxford and Knowlton in 1839. It is 
about 7 miles long, and 5 wide ; bounded N. and NW. by Knowl- 
ton, E. by Hardwick and Independence, SE. by Mansfield, andSW. 
by Oxford. The surface is mountainous, and the soil, in the valleys 
of the Beaver brook and Pequest river, is fertile. Cap. in manu- 
fac. 84,150; 6 schools, 311 scholars. Pop. 1,690. 

The first settlers in this region were Mr. Samuel Green and 
family, from Long Island. He was the first surveyor employed in 
this vicinity, and came here about the commencement of the French 
and Indian wars. The family were on friendly terms with the 
Indians, who, being grateful for their kindness, warned them of the 
approach of hostilities, so that they temporarily removed until the 
war was over. 

The annexed engraving shows the appearance of the village of 
Hope, as seen from the Jenny Jump mountain, an elevation of 600 
or 800 feet. The notch or depression in the distant mountain 
is the Delaware Water Gap, distant 12 miles. The village is 16 
miles from Newton, and 9 from Belvidere. It contains 1 Methodist, 
1 Christ-ian, and 1 Episcopal church, 7 stores, many mechanic shops, 



492 



WARREN COUNTY. 



and about 60 dwellings. The churches and many of the other 
buildings are constructed of blue limestone. The Episcopal church, 
erected in 1832, is one of the most elegant specimens of the Gothic 
style of architecture in the state. 




Hope, from Jenny Jump Mountain. 

Some years since an act of incorporation was obtained for an 
association called the " Warren County Mining Company." They 
commenced operations at a locality in the mountain about 3 miles 
from the village. A shaft 100 feet in length was sunk at an angle 
of 45 degrees. After working it, at various times, at considerable 
expense, it was abandoned. It seems they were deceived by iron 
pyrites in that locality, a substance which, from its resemblance to 
gold, has often misled those unacquainted with mineralogy. 

In 1769, the Moravians from Bethlehem, Penn., purchased a tract 
of about 1,000 acres at this place of Mr. Green, who lived in a log 
house on the hill, a few rods from the Christ-ian church. The 
Moravians who removed here were remarkably honest in all their 
dealings ; but by trusting too much to the honesty of those with 
whom they had business, suffered in their pecuniary affairs. In 
1805 or '6 they returned to their settlements at Bethlehem and 
Nazareth. While here, they erected a church and a tavern, which 
last stood where the Christ-ian church is now erected, and was burnt 
a few years since. The annexed engraving is a representation of 
the Union Hotel in the village, built of limestone. This structure 
was erected in 1781, and was originally the Moravian church, being 
surmounted with a cupola, which has since been taken down, and a 
portico added. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



493 



The United Brethren, or Moravians, derive their origin from the 
Greek church, in the 9th century. The society, as at present, was 
placed on a permanent foundation in 1722, by Count Zinzendorf, 
a German nobleman. At the commencement of the last century, 
after more than two hundred of their congregations had been de- 




Hotel at Hope, (the Ancient Moravian Church.) 

stroyed or dispersed by persecution in Moravia, a small remnant 
found refuge on his estates in Saxony, and through his patronage 
built Herrnhut, now their largest settlement. Count Zinzendorf, the 
instrument of renewing their church, was subsequently consecrated 
one of their bishops, and from thenceforward devoted his life to the 
cause. Individuals of all religious denominations united with them, 
and gave rise to such diversity of sentiment, that it was considered 
judicious to unite upon some general rules of agreement. Accord- 
ingly, under the guidance of the count, certain articles of union 
were concurred in, which, omitting the distinctive doctrines of the 
various Protestant denominations, adopted only the generally ad- 
mitted fundamental truths of scripture. The United Brethren, 
therefore, object to being considered as a separate sect, inasmuch as 
their own peculiarities arise principally from their social organiza- 
tion. Individuals of all Protestant denominations, consequently, 
have always been freely admitted into their communities without 
renouncing their peculiar creeds. Discussions relating to the 
Trinity, and other speculative truths, are carefully avoided ; but 
they make the merits of the Saviour the principal theme of their dis- 
courses, and the only ground of salvation. High- wrought emotions, 
engendered by momentary impulses, are not considered as sure 
tests of piety as a daily upright and humble deportment. The 
Moravian church is Episcopal, and has a liturgy ; but their bishops 
possess no pre-eminent authority. 

The brethren early turned their attention to this country, with a 
view of propagating the gospel among the Indians. In 1735, they 
temporarily established themselves in Savannah, but abandoned it 
and returned to Pennsylvania, in consequence of being obliged, if 
they remained, of taking up arms with the Spaniards against the 



494 WARREN COUNTY. 

English. Here it was, it is believed, that the great founder of 
Methodism, John Wesley, became acquainted with them, from 
whom he imbibed some of his peculiar sentiments. In 1741, they 
settled near the forks of the Delaware. Count Zinzendorf, then on 
a missionary tour in America, visited this place at Christmas, in 
that year, and lodged in a log-house, attached to which was a stable. 
From this circumstance the name of Bethlehem was given to the 
settlement. 

The count was undoubtedly pre-eminently fitted for a pioneer in 
the cause. He is represented to have been one of the most extra- 
ordinary divines that have appeared since the reformation — a man 
of fervent piety, powerful imagination, original genius, and exten- 
sive acquirements, and a sound, though perhaps eccentric theolo- 
gian. In his portrait, he is dressed in a plain, single-breasted coat, 
a mantle partially thrown over the shoulder, and a white cravat 
gathered in a simple fold ; the hair dark, smoothly parted on the 
left side, and hanging in graceful ringlets down the neck and shoul- 
ders ; the forehead high and even ; eye penetrating ; nose long and 
aquiline ; mouth large, but well formed, and the general expression 
highly intellectual, denoting purity of thought and benevolence. 
When here, he travelled much among the Indians, generally on 
horseback, but not unfrequently on foot. Once or twice he narrow- 
ly escaped being slain by them. 

No people have probably done so much in the cause of missions, 
in proportion to their means, as the Moravians. The sufferings and 
devotedness of their missionaries have been without a parallel : 
and many interesting anecdotes are given of them. They have 
gone forth, single-handed and unknown, among the slave popula- 
tion of the West Indies, the sour, licentious hordes of Greenland, 
and the savages of our own country. In some instances ten, in oth- 
ers nearly fifty years have elapsed ere they saw any fruit ; yet 
they continued to labor, full of faith, and struggling against mis- 
representation, suffering, and loss of life. 

The total number of missionaries, with their wives, employed in 
1838, was 230. These had 51,000 souls under their care, of whom 
16,000were communicants. Owing to their simple mode of living, 
and the practice in some instances of supporting themselves by per- 
sonal labor, this great scheme of missionary effort has been con- 
ducted on a very economical scale. The annual outlay of the so- 
ciety for the support of their forty-two stations, pensions to retired 
missionaries, and widows, and the education and apprenticing of 
their children, and other expenses, amounts to about $50,000. 

There are at present in the United States several societies of 
Moravians, besides their independent communities ; but as they do 
not come under their social regulations, cannot in the fullest sense 
be considered as belonging to them. Their communities are at 
Bethlehem. Nazareth, and Litiz, in Pennsylvania, and at Salem in 
North Carolina. 

Bethlehem, their largest town, has about one thousand inhabitants, 



WARREN COUNTY. 495 

who are mainly of German descent, and speak and worship in that 
language. The village is romantically located, compactly built, 
and combines the attractions of both town and country. Their 
government is administered by a board elected biennially. The 
land belongs to the society, and is let out for building lots and other 
purposes, at a trifling annual rent. This enables them to keep their 
village free from all unworthy persons ; but they ever admit the 
temporary residence of such as are willing to conform to their ex- 
ternal regulations. The inhabitants are engaged in the usual me- 
chanical, mercantile, and agricultural employments ; and some have 
acquired considerable property. It was formerly the custom here, 
and is still in Germany, to have separate establishments for such as 
had not families, viz : the si?igle brethren's Iwuse, for young men and 
apprentices, where they lived and carried on their respective em- 
ployments, — the sisters' house, for the abode of unmarried females, 
and the widows' house. But as the society has increased in wealth, 
the necessity for them has vanished, and it is believed they do not 
now exist anywhere in the Union. 

The young of both sexes were not then generally allowed to as- 
sociate. When a young man wished to marry, he would hand in 
the name of the lady to the board of elders. If judged improper, 
from pecuniary disability, or other reasons, recourse was had to the 
lot to decide the question. This was always entered upon with so- 
lemnity, and preceded by prayer. If favorable, the young lady had 
the privilege of refusal. In extraordinary cases it is even now re- 
sorted to : for instance, when a young lady receives proposals of 
marriage from a missionary, and is undecided, she sometimes re- 
quests the lot to be taken. 

Meetings are held every evening in the week. Sunday mornings 
the litany is read, and a sermon delivered in the church ; services 
are also performed in the evening. Certain festival days, such as 
Easter, Pentecost, Christmas, &c, are celebrated. As usual among 
the Germans, great attention is paid to music ; almost every dwell- 
ing has its piano, and it forms one of the most interesting "features 
of their public worship. Before the Lord's supper they have a love 
feast, when all assemble expressly to listen to vocal and instrumen- 
tal music, interspersed with hymns, in which the congregation join, 
while they partake of a cup of coffee, tea, or chocolate, and light 
cakes, in token of fellowship and brotherly union. Easter morning 
is devoted to a solemnity of a peculiar kind. At sunrise the con- 
gregation assemble in the graveyard ; a service, accompanied by 
music, is celebrated, expressive of the joyful hopes of immortality 
and resurrection, and a solemn commemoration of those who in the 
course of the last year have gone to heaven. 

Soon as a person dies, the event is announced by solemn instru- 
mental music, from a band stationed in the church tower. Differ- 
ent tunes are played, signifying the age, sex, and condition of the 
deceased ; so it is then usually known who is dead. These death 
hymns, sounding, as they often do, upon the still morning or evening 



496 WARREN COUNTY.' 

air. must have a singularly melancholy effect upon the hearer, re- 
minding him that he too is mortal. Their funeral services are usu- 
ally performed in church; from thence the congregation march to 
the grave, preceded by a band of music. If the deceased is a fe- 
male, the ladies follow first after the coffin ; if a male, the re- 
verse. They consider death as no evil, but the entrance to eternal 
bliss, and therefore do not mourn for friends, nor wear insignia of 
grief. In alluding to the departed, they use the expression, " heim 
gehen," signifying that they have gone home. The graveyard, like 
most of this denomination, is laid out as a garden, and planted with 
trees, under which are seats for visitors. The graves are devoid 
of the disagreeable coffin-like shape of our own ; but resemble 
flower-beds, and in many cases are covered with myrtle and other 
ornamental plants. The monuments are small slabs laid horizon- 
tally upon the graves, the inscriptions uppermost, and bearing sim- 
ply the name, age, and place of decease. 

The following interesting particulars respecting Count Zinzen- 
dorf's visit to this country, are from Chapman's History of Wy- 
oming. 

Upon his arrival in America, Count Zinzendorf manifested a great anxiety to have 
the tjospel preached to the Indians ; and although he had heard much of the ferocity of 
the Shawanese, formed a resolution to visit them. With this view he repaired to Tulpe- 
hocken. the residence of Conrad Weiser, a celebrated Indian interpreter, and Indian 
agent for the government, whom he wished to engage in the cause, and to accompany 
him to the Shawanese town. Weiser was too much occupied in business to go imme- 
diately to Wyoming, but lie furnished the count with letters to a missionary by the name 
of Mack, and the latter, accompanied by his wife, who could speak the Indian language, 
proceeded immediately with Zinzendorf on the projected mission. 

The Shawanese appeared to be alarmed on the arrival of the strangers, who pitched 
their tents on the banks of the river a little below the town, and a council of the chiefs 
having assembled, the declared purpose of Zinzendorf was deliberately considered. To 
these unlettered children of the wilderness it appeared altogether improbable that a stran- 
ger should brave the dangers of a boisterous ocean three thousand miles broad, for the 
sole purpose of instructing them in the means of obtaining happiness after death, and 
that too without requiring any compensation for his trouble and expense ; and as they 
had observed the anxiety of the white people to purchase lands of the Indians, they nat- 
urally concluded that the real object of Zinzendorf was either to procure from them the 
lands at Wyoming for his own uses, to search for hidden treasures, or to examine the 
country with a view to future conquest. It was accordingly resolved to assassinate 
him, and to do it privately, lest the knowledge of the transaction should produce a war 
with the English, who were settling the country below the mountains. 

Zinzendorf was alone in his tent, seated upon a bundle of dry weeds which composed 
his bed, and ens-aged in writing, when the assassins approached to execute their bloody 
commission. It was night, and the cool air of September had rendered a small fire ne- 
cessary to his comfort and convenience. A curtain formed of a blanket and hung upon 
pins was the only guard to the entrance of his tent. The heat of his small fire had 
aroused a large rattlesnake which lay in the weeds not far from it ; and the reptile, to en- 
joy it more effectually, crawled slowly into the tent and passed over one of his legs un- 
discovered. Without, all was still and quiet except the gentle murmur of the river at 
the rapids about a mile below. At this moment the Indians softly approached the door 
of his tent, and slightly removing the curtain, contemplated the venerable man too deep- 
ly engaged in the subject of his thoughts to notice either their approach, or the snake 
which lay extended before him. At a sight like this, even the heart of the savage 
shrunk from the idea of committing so horrid an act, and quitting the spot, they hastily 
returned to the town, and informed their companions that the Great Spirit protected the 
white man, for they had found him with no door but a blanket, and had seen a large rat- 



WARREN COUNTY. 



497 



tlesnake crawl over his legs without attempting to injure him.* This circumstance, to- 
gether with the arrival soon afterward of Conrad Weiser, procured Zinzendorf the friend- 
ship and confidence of the Indians, and probably contributed essentially toward inducing 
many of them at a subsequent period to embrace the Christian religion. The count, 
having spent twenty days at Wyoming, returned to Bethlehem, a town then building by 
his Christian brethren on the north bank of the Lehigh, about eleven miles from its junc- 
tion with the Delaware. 

In the village burying-ground at Hope are the graves of about 
40 or 50 of the Moravians. A slab of gray stone about two feet 
long is placed horizontally over each grave, each with a simple 
inscription recording the name, birth, and death ; the following is a 
copy of two of the inscriptions : 



No. 33. 

CONRAD OMENSETTER, 

Born December 18th, 

1740, 

In Germany. 

Departed 
July 2, 1792. 



MARIA SALOME 

BLUM, 

Born June 11, 

1718. 

In Hope, 

Departed Aug. 30, 

1778. 



INDEPENDENCE. 

Independence is 8 m. long, 6 broad ; and is bounded NW. by 
Hardwick, NE. by Green and Byram, Sussex co., E. by Roxbury 
and Washington, Morris co., S. by Mansfield, and W. by Hope. 
There are in the township 11 stores, 1 furnace, 6 flouring-m., 3 
grist-m., 1 oil-m. ; cap. in manufac. §65,650 ; 13 schools, 580 scho- 
lars. Pop. 2,284. 

The " Great Meadows" is a tract 5 m. long by 2 wide, in the W. 
part, which is drained by the Pequest river. The Musconetcong, 
with its fertile valley, is in the eastern part of the township, and 
the Morris canal enters the co. near the NE. corner of the township. 

Hackettstown, on the Musconetcong creek, 17 m. NE. of Belvi- 
dere, was founded previous to the American revolution, and derives 
its name from Mr. Samuel Hackett, a large landholder. A Pres- 
byterian church was erected in 1763, as appears from the date on 
the gravestone of Mr. Nathaniel Foster, who, with two others, was 
accidentally killed at the raising of the building. Just after the 
war. there were ten dwellings in the place. It gradually increased 
from that period until 1830, since which it has nearly doubled in 
population. The annexed view was taken in the main street of 
the village, which is about half a mile in length, and, being thickly 
Studded with stores, mechanic shops, and dwellings, has a thriving, 
business-like appearance. On the left, near the spectator, is seen 
a part of the Methodist church, built in 1833, and the spire in the 

* This circumstance is not published in the Count's memoirs, lest, as he states, the 
brethren should think the conversion of a part of the Shawanese was attributable to 
their superstition. The author received the narrative from a companion of Zinzendorf, 
who afterward accompanied him to Wyoming. 

63 



498 



WARREN COUNTY. 



distance is that of the Presbyterian church, a handsome building 
of wood, with pillars in front, erected in 1819, on the site of the old 
one. Schooley's mountain, 3 m. from the village, appears in the 







mi: 




Central View in Hackettstown. 

background. Hackettstown contains a woollen manufactory, a 
cupola furnace, 2 large flouring-m., 2 taverns, (one of which is 
large, and capable of accommodating many guests,) 1 tannery, 
about 25 mechanic shops of various kinds, 6 mercantile stores, 91 
dwellings, and about 700 inhabitants. The Morris canal runs 
three quarters of a mile W. of the village, at the base of Bucks 
Hill, a bold eminence, deriving its name from the deer formerly 
abounding there. The land in the vicinity of the village is fertile, 
under excellent cultivation, and is valued at from $50 to $100 per 
acre. 

The following inscriptions are copied from monuments in the 
graveyard adjoining the Presbyterian church at Hackettstown : 

This marble, sacred to the memory of Rev. Joseph Campbell, D. D., was erected by 
the congregp tioii of Hackettstown, N. J., who enjoyed his able and faithful labors in the 
gospel ministry upwards of 31 years. Though extensively honored for his literary and 
scientific attainments, and respected for his piety, he was yet a man of great humility, 
and wore as his daily and most distinguishing habit, the " ornament of a meek and quiet 
spirit." He was licensed to preach the gospel A. D. 1808, ordained in 1809, and departed 
this life Sept. 6th, A. D. 1840, in the 65th year of his age, " full of faith and the Holy 
Ghost." 



Sacred to the memory of William Stewart, who departed this life Feb. 17th, 1810, in 
the 72d year of his age. For 32 years, he was a ruling elder in the church, highly re- 
vered and esteemed by all its members for his edifying life and conversation. And his 
care in instructing the youth of the congregation, while destitute of a pastor, will long be 
remembered by the friends of Zion. With truth it may be said, here lies the affectionate 
husband, the kind father, the devout Christian. 

In God's own arms he left the breath 

That God's own Spirit gave ; 
His was the noblest road to death, 

And liis the sweetest • r ave. 



WARREN COUNTY. 



499 



Danville, on the road to Hope, on the western line of the town- 
ship, 5 m. from Hackettstown, contains about 10 dwellings, seve- 
ral mechanics, and a Presbyterian church built of stone. Vienna, 
1 m. E. of Danville, on the same road, is a village of about the 
same size. Alamuche and Warrenville are also small settlements 
in the NE. part of the township, containing each about a dozen 
dwellings, and some mechanic shops, mills, &c. In the N. part of 
the township is a Friends meeting-house. 



MANSFIELD. 

Mansfield is 1 1 m. long, 5 wide, and is bounded NW. by Hope 
and Oxford, NE. by Independence, SE. by Musconetcong creek, 
separating it from Hunterdon co., and SW. by Franklin. There 
are in the township 8 stores, 1 tannery, 1 grist-m., 3 saw-m. ; cap. 
in manufac. $66,950 ; 12 schools, 1,027 scholars. Pop. 3,057. 

The Pohatcong creek, and the Morris canal, pass lengthwise 
through the township. The valleys of the Musconetcong and Po- 
hatcong, in this township, are extremely fertile. Large quantities 
of limestone are burnt and used in manuring the land in this re- 
gion, and the appearance of the farms and dwellings indicates a 
more than ordinary degree of prosperity. 




South View of Washington. 

The village of Washington is in the SW. part of the township, 8 
m. SE. of Belvidere, and 12 from Easton. This place is of recent 
origin. Previous to 1811, there were not any dwellings here ex- 
cepting a few small huts. In that year, the brick tavern was 
erected by the late Col. Wm. McCullough, of Asbury. A year 
later, the dwelling now owned by Mr. Gershom Rustin was built ; 
since which the village has grown up, and progressed to its pres- 
ent prosperous condition. Washington is principally built on a 
single street, running E. and W. The annexed view was taken 



500 WARREN COUNTY. 

on the hill S. of the village, on the road to New Hampton. On 
the extreme right is seen the Methodist church, a substantial brick 
structure, erected in 1825. In the central part of the view is the 
Presbyterian church, also of brick, and ornamented with a hand- 
some spire. The corner-stone of this edifice was laid July 4, 1837. 
Previously, the congregation worshipped in a stone church erected 
about half a century since, now unoccupied, and standing half a 
mile S. of the village. Before it was built, a log church stood on 
its site. There are several mechanic shops, stores, &c, in the vil- 
lage, and about 40 dwellings in it and vicinity. The Morris canal 
runs about half a mile N., where there are two store-houses and 
several dwellings. The village being new, well built, and pleasant- 
ly situated in a fertile valley, has a cheerful, thriving appearance. 
Beatty's town, (in the fertile valley of the Musconetcong,) New- 
berg, Changewater, Anderson, and Port Colden, (where there is a 
Baptist church,) each contain from 1 to 25 dwellings. 



OXFORD.* 

Oxford is 9 m. long, 6 wide, and contains about 50 square miles, 
bounded on the N. by Knowlton and Hope, on the E. by Mansfield, 
on the S. by Harmony, and on the W. by the Delaware river. 
There were in the township, in 1840, 12 schools, 822 scholars. 
Pop. 2,853. 

A ridge of gneiss, here called Scott's mountain, but in Sussex 
known as the Hamburg or Iron mountain, running nearly SW. and 
NE., forms a kind of irregular table-land along the eastern side of 
the township, having a general elevation of about 600 feet above 
the level of the sea, but sometimes rising 200 or 300 feet higher. 
A great part of this high land is yet occupied by forests of chest- 
nut and oak, but is almost all capable of cultivation, and, when 
manured with lime, yields very good crops. Along the foot of 
Scott's mountain extends a narrow valley of limestone, separating 
it from a low gneiss ridge, an extension of Jenny Jump mountain, 
remarkable only for the singular effect which it has had upon the 
limestone in its vicinity, which has been converted into a beautiful 
marble, in some places pure white, and at others resembling rose- 
colored feldspar, speckled with crystals of epidote, mica, and other 
minerals. NW. of this ridge lies a valley of limestone, about two 
miles wide, which is followed by a ridge of clay slate, crossing the 
Delaware a short distance above Belvidere, and running nearly 
parallel with it to the upper end of the township, having part of 
the way a narrow belt of rich alluvial land between it and the 
river. The limestone is generally of a grayish blue color, and be- 
longs to what is called the ancient secondary formation. It forms 
a good building-stone, and yields excellent lime. Some varieties 

* Note. — The compilers are indebted to the Hon. J. P. B. Maxwell for the article on 
Oxford township, excepting that part giving the history of the Presbyterian church. 



WARREN COUNTY. 501 

contain a large proportion of magnesia, and then form a good water 
. cement. The soil over the limestone is very fertile. The slate is 
of a coarse quality, suited only for building-stone or flags. The 
soil upon it is lighter and thinner than that on the limestone, but, 
with the aid of lime, yields good crops. Iron ore in the form of 
red hematite is found, in connection with the limestone, near the 
Foul rift, but has not been mined to any extent on the Jersey side. 
It is of an excellent quality, and large quantities are taken out on 
the Pennsylvania side of the river. Scott's mountain is remarkable 
throughout its whole extent for the quantity of valuable minerals 
with which it abounds. The only ore of much importance in this 
township, is iron ore, found in the form of a black magnetic oxyde, 
in great abundance and of the finest quality, near Oxford Furnace. 
It yields about (50 per cent, of a remarkably tough iron, well calcu- 
lated for the manufacture of gun-barrels, cutlery, and machinery. 
Black oxyde of manganese, plumbago, and sulphured of iron, are also 
found in Scott's mountain, but not in sufficient quantities to be of 
value. Quartz crystal, asbestos, crystallized epidote, and some other 
curious minerals, are also found in different parts of the township. 
There are in Oxford township 2 Baptist, 2 Episcopalian, 2 Meth- 
odist, and 2 Presbyterian churches ; 8 grist-m., 7 saw-m., 3 iron 
foundries, and 1 blast furnace. As agriculture is the chief occupa- 
tion of the people, they are mostly scattered about on farms ; and 
the villages are generally very small, and consist merely of a few 
houses collected at a mill or cross-roads. Besides Belvidere, the 
county town, Oxford township contains the villages or hamlets of 
Bridgeville, Butzville, Oxford Meeting-house, Oxford Furnace, Ram- 
saysburg, Rifton, and Sarepta. Bridgeville, on the Pequest, 3 m. 
above Belvidere, consists of a store, tavern, and ten or a dozen 
houses and shops. Butzville, on the Pequest, 5 m. above Belvidere, 
has a Methodist church, (incorporated March 31, 1841,) a tavern, 
and 2 or 3 houses. Oxford Meeting-house, 2 m. E. of Belvidere, 
contains a Presbyterian church, a grist-m., saw-m., tannery, tavern, 
schoolhouse, and about a dozen houses and shops. The church is 
one of the oldest establishments in the county, — the present frame 
building having been erected in 1785, in place of a log church 
which had been used for many years previous. Oxford Furnace, 
5 m. E. of Belvidere, has an iron furnace, grist-m., store, and half 
a dozen dwelling-houses. The furnace was established nearly 100 
years ago. It now yields about 800 tons of pigs per annum. The 
mines are less than half a mile from the furnace. Ramsaysburg, 
on the Delaware, 5 m. above Belvidere, consists of an Episco- 
palian church, a Baptist church, a tavern, 2 stores, and a few 
scattered houses. The Episcopalian church, St. James's, is the old- 
est of that denomination in the county, having been established 
at least as early as 1785. Rifton, at the Foul Rift falls, on the 
Delaware, 1? m. below Belvidere, has a grist-m., a saw-m., and 4 
dwelling-houses. The river falls 6 feet at the Little rift, and 16 
-xv ; and a canal of a mile in length would form a 



502 



WARREN COUNTY. 



water-power almost unequalled in the state. Sarepta, on Beaver 
brook, a branch of the Pequest, 3 1-4 m. NE. of Belvidere, has an 
iron foundry, grist-m., and saw-m., and 4 dwelling-houses. 

The first settlement in the township was made by two men 
named Axford and Green, probably about 1730. The tradition is, 
that on coming into the country they ascended Rattlesnake hill, 
and there climbed a tree, to survey the country and fix upon a spot 
for their residence. Axford's attention was attracted by the natu- 
ral meadows at Oxford Furnace, while Green preferred the banks 
of the beautiful little lake which still bears his name. The de- 
scendants of both these adventurers may still be found around the 
places of their original settlement. The name of Axford was very 
generally pronounced Oxford, and it is probable the township took 
its name from him. 




Belvidere, from near the Washington Turnpike. 

Belvidere, the county-town of Warren, is beautifully situated on 
both sides of the Pequest river, at its junction with the Delaware, 
in lat. 40° 47' N., and Ion. 1° 50' E. from Washington ; 65 miles 
W. of New York, 65 N. of Philadelphia, and 13 above Easton. 
It has a courthouse, clerk's and surrogate's offices, a bank, 3 
churches, (Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian,) 4 schools, 
(and an academy now building.) 2 printing-offices, at which weekly 
papers are published — the " Belvidere Apollo," (whig,) established 
in 1824, and the "Warren Journal," (dem.) established in 1833 — 
4 hotels, (one new and very large,) 3 grist-mills, (one of 
which is very large,) two saw-mills, (one of them double,) 
3 board-yards, 2 iron-foundries ; 3 clergymen, 7 lawyers, 3 
physicians; 12 stores; 1 apothecary, 1 baker, 3 butcher, 3 black- 
smith, 2 cabinet-maker, 2 carpenter, 1 chairmaker, 4 confection- 
er, 2 hatter, 2 harness-maker, 6 milliner, 7 shoemaker, 2 sash- 
maker, 2 silversmith, 1 silver-plater, 2 stonecutter, 1 tinsmith, 
and 2 wheelwright shops; 162 dwelling-houses, ? 



WARREN COUNTY. 503 

1,000 inhabitants. There are two bridges across the Pequest, one 
of stone, the other wood ; and a covered wooden bridge, 630 feet 
long, supported on stone piers and abutments, across the Delaware. 
The latter was built in 1835, partly destroyed, by a freshet, April 
11, 1836, and rebuilt in the year following; the entire cost being 
about $25,000. The Pequest river falls about 50 feet, in the last 
mile of its course, affording a heavy water-power ; a part only of 
which is at present occupied. The Delaware, here 600 feet wide, 
falls twenty-two feet within a mile and a half; below where half 
its waters may be used for manufacturing purposes. These two 
water-powers together are greater than those at Paterson, and far 
exceed any others in the state. 

Two railroads, terminating at Belvidere, have been chartered 
and surveyed ; one an extension of the Somerville railroad, and the 
other called the Belvidere Delaware railroad, following the course 
of the river to Trenton. The estimated cost of the former is about 
$800,000, and of the latter $1,000,000. As these roads would con- 
nect, at Belvidere, with the Susquehanna and Delaware railroad, 
passing through the immense coal-beds of the Lackawanna and 
Susquehanna, and with it, and the Leggett's Gap railroad, form a 
chain of roads extending to the western part of the New York and 
Erie railroad, thus making a line of communication from New 
York to Lake Erie considerably shorter, over lower grades, and at 
less expense than that by the eastern part of the New York and 
Erie Railroad, — it is altogether probable that one or both will be 
constructed, as soon as confidence is sufficiently restored to induce 
the prosecution of such works ; and, should either be built, the im- 
mense water-powers of Belvidere must render it a place of great 
importance. 

From the number of arrow-heads and other relics found here, 
it is evident that Belvidere was a favorite resort of the Indians ; 
but nothing is known of its history previous to the settlement of 
the whites. The first settler was Robert Patterson, who estab- 
lished himself here, it is believed, about the middle of the last cen- 
tury. Shortly after, a small blockhouse was erected, on the north 
side of the Pequest, some 30 or 40 yards east of the present toll- 
house of the Belvidere Delaware bridge. Some time previous to 
the revolutionary war, a battle was fought, on the Pennsylvania 
side of the river, between a band of Indians, who came from the 
north, and the Delawares residing in the neighborhood, aided by 
the whites ; in which the latter were defeated, and driven to the 
Jersey side. In 1792, the village consisted of a grist-mill, on the 
site now occupied by the " old mill," a saw-mill on the opposite 
side of the Pequest, and six dwelling-houses. No part of these 
buildings now remains, except the stone foundation of the old mill. 
At that time, the principal part of the land north of the Pequest was 
owned by Maj. Robert Hoops, who gave the place its name, prob- 
ably from the beauty of its situation ; while that on the south side, 
including the water-powers, belonged to the celebrated Robert Mor- 



:■:-. 



Ik Wt 



warren county. 505 



PAHAQUARRY. 

Pihaquarry, the NW. to w m i i was formed from 

sex co.. in 189 is long and narrow, beir.- 

miles long, and H wide, and is bounded XE. by Walpack. Sussex 

3 E. by Hardwlck and Knowlton, and SW. and N¥ 
Delaware river. It has nc~ . thinly se 

having a population o: - smallest of any town- 

ship in the state. It derives its name from a town belonging to the 
isink tr. ntly standing ther 

Pahaquarry is the most secluded township in 1 'A 1 *? 

in a nook between the mountains and the Delawar Blue 

mountain, running its whole length, occupies all its : ept a 

narrow fertile strip on the river, nowhere over SO rods in width, 
but extending the whole length of the townshi: mountain 

and river scenery is uncommonly beautiful and : and the 

Delaware Water Gap is partly in tJb . por- 

tion. On the." le of the Gap is a place g omes 

boldly down to the road-side, called the Indian Ladder, which ■ . 

:e, before the road was constructed, came down perpen- 
dicularly to the water nd prevented the inhabitants from 
having a free communication v :f the county. In 
- had there a kind of ladder made of an up- 
right tree : afterward a rope ladder was made by the but it 
was a dangerous place to get over, being 30 or .a height 
and only surmountable by foot passengers. On the summit of the 
Blue mountain are two beautiful lakes, pr: 1 land over a 
1,000 feet above the level of the Delaware. Neai dm of t'nem is 
a chalybeate spring, call- painl spring," which deposits 
ferruginous ochre. ■ In the va. j~s Prof. Rogers in his report, 
"which divides the mountain into two t the V>" 
and about two miles and a half from the river on the Jersey side, a 
spot has been found containing very* excellent hematite iron ore. 
In what c e ore exists has not yet be- .ined: though 
the impression prevails that the Blue mountain contains, in many 
places, iron ore in sufficient quantity to justify a more mine" 
amination. There ar nt throughout this Blue mountain 
region va. er and other precious min- 
- will onlv be listened to by the over-credulous, 
as every thing _:eal structure : must indicate 
to persons at ail versed in miner i mining, th nder 
probability- of ther g place any mineral treasures of 
this nature." At an early period in \ement of the country 
several openings were made into the base of the Blue 
mountain in search of copper ore. 

On the farm of Abraham Van Campen. 1 eax the blacksmith 

shop of Mr. Andrew Ribbies. in the central part of the township, 
there was once an Indian burial-place. Manv skeletons and relics 

M 



506 WARREN COUNTY. 

have been ploughed up, such as guns, kettles, blankets, crucifixes, 
bell-buttons, beads, pipes, &c. A few years since the skeleton of 
what is supposed to have been an Indian chief, was disinterred. He 
was found wrapped in a blanket, in a sort of stone coffin, and buried 
in his war costume, decked with beads and all the paraphernalia 
of savage splendor. A gun lay on each side, with the breech at his 
feet and the barrel across his shoulder. Over these lay his arms, 
with the hands folded across his breast, under which lay two spoons 
crossed. Behind his neck was his tobacco-box and ammunition. 
Several crosses were placed on his body; among which, on his breast 
was a large brass one, nicely cast, bearing on one side the figure 
of Christ, and on the other, one representing his ascension. 



The following, from Hazard's Register, throws some light on the 
early settlements on the Delaware, in this section of country. It is 
extracted from two letters written by Samuel Preston, Esq., and 
dated Stockport, June 6th and 14th, 1828. 

Meenesink, Mine Holes, &c. — In 1787, the writer went on his first surveying tour 
into Northampton county ; he was deputy under John Lukens, surveyor-general, and 
received from him, by way of instructions, the following narrative respecting the settle- 
ment of Meenesink, on the Delaware, above the Kittanny and Blue mountain : 

That the settlement was formed a long time before it was known to the government in 
Philadelphia. That when government was informed of the settlement, they passed a law 
in 1729, that any such purchases of the Indians should be void, and the purchasers in- 
dicted lor " forcible entry and detainer," according to the laws of England. That in 1730, 
they appointed an agent to go and investigate the facts ; that the agent so appointed was 
the famous surveyor Nicholas Scull ; that lie, James Lukens, was then N. Scull's appren- 
tice to carry chain and learn surveying. That he accompanied N. Scull. As they both 
understood and could talk Indian, they hired Indian guides, and had a fatiguing journey, 
there being then no white inhabitants in the upper part of Bucks or Northampton county ; 
that they had very great difficulty to lead their horses through the. Water Gap to Meene- 
sink Flats, which were all settled with Hollanders ; with several they could only be un- 
derstood in Indian. At the venerable Samuel Dupuis' they found great hospitality and 
plenty of the necessaries of life. J. Lukens said that the first thing that struck his ad- 
miration was a grove of apple-trees, of size far beyond any near Philadelphia. That as 
N. Scull and himself examined the banks, they were fully of opinion that all those flats 
had at some very former age been a deep lake before the river broke through the moun- 
tain, and that the best interpretation they could make of Meenesink was, the water is 
gone. That S. Dupuis told them when the rivers were frozen he had a good road to 
Esopus, (now Kingston,) from the mine holes, on the mine-road some hundred miles. 
That he took his wheat and cider there for salt and necessaries, and did not appear to 
have any knowledge or idea where the river ran, Philadelphia market, or being in the 
government of Pennsylvania. 

They were of opinion, that the first settlements of Hollanders in Meenesink were many 
years older than William Penn's charter, and is S. Dupuis had treated them so well, they 
concluded to make a survey of his claim in order to befriend him if necessary. When 
they began to survey, the Indians gathered around ; an old Indian laid his hand on N. 
Scull's shoulder, and said, " Put vp iron string, go home ;" they then quit and returned. 
************** 

I had it in charge from John Lukens to learn more particulars respecting the mine-road 
to Esopus, &c. I found Nicholas Dupuis, Esq., son of Samuel,) living in a spacious 
stone house in great plenty and affluence. The old mine-holes were a few miles above, 
on the Jersey side of the river by the lower point of Paaquarry Flat ; that the Meenesink 
settlement extended 40 miles or more en both sides of the river. That he had well known 
the mine-road to Esopus, and used, before he opened the boat channel through Foul Rift, 
to drive on it several times every winter with loads of wheat and cider ; as also did his 
neighbors to purchase their salt and necessaries in Esopus, having then no other market 
or knowledge where the river ran to. That after a navigable channel was opened through 



WARREN COUNTY. 507 

Foul Rifts they generally took to boating, and most of the settlement turned their trade 
down stream, the mine-road became less and less travelled. 

This interview with the amiable Nicholas Dupuis, Esq., was in June, 1787. He then 
appeared about 60 years of age. ^interrogated as to the particulars of what he knew, 
as to when and by whom the mine-road was made, what was the ore they dug and hauled 
on it, what was the date, and from whence or how came the first settlers of Meenesink 
in such great numbers as to take up all the flats on both sides of the river for forty miles. 
He could only give traditional accounts of what he had heard from older people, without 
date, in substance as follows : 

" That in some former age there came a company of miners from Holland, supposed 
from the great labor expended in making that road, about one hundred miles long, that 
they were very rich, or great people in working the two mines, one on the Delaware, 
where the mountain nearly approaches the lower point of Paaquarry Flat, the other at 
the north foot of the same mountain, near half way between the Delaware and Esopus. 
He ever understood that abundance of ore had been hauled on that road, but never could 
learn whether lead or silver. That the first settlers came from Holland to seek a place of 
quiet, being persecuted for their religion. I believe they were Arminians. They follow- 
ed the mine-road to the large flats on the Delaware ; that smooth cleared land, and such 
an abundance of large apple-trees, suited their views ; that they 'bona fide' bought the 
improvements of the native Indians, most of whom then removed to Susquehanna ; that 
with such as remained, there was peace and friendship until 1755." 

I then went to view the Paaquarry mine-holes. There appeared to have been a great 
abundance of labor done there at some former time, but the mouths of these holes were 
caved full and overgrown with bushes. I concluded to myself if there ever had been a 
rich mine under that mountain, it must be there yet in close confinement. The other 
old men I conversed with, gave their traditions similar to Nicholas Dupuis, and they all 
appeared to be grandsons of the first settlers, and generally very illiterate as to dates or 
any thing relating to chronology. 

In the summer of 1789, I began to build on this place, there came two venerable gen- 
tlemen on a surveying expedition. They were the late Gen. James Clinton, the father of 
the late De Witt Clinton, and Christopher Tappan, Esq., clerk and recorder of Ulster co. 
For many years before they had both been surveyors under Gen. Clinton's father when 
he was surveyor-general. In order to learn some history from gentlemen of their gen- 
eral knowledge, I accompanied them in the woods. They both well knew the mine-holes, 
mine-road, &c., and as there was no kind of documents or records thereof, united in the 
opinion that it was a work transacted while the State of New York belonged to the 
government of Holland, that it fell to the English in 1664, and that the change of gov- 
ernment stopped the mining business, and that the road must have been made many 
years before so much digging could have been done. That it undoubtedly must have 
been the first good road of that extent ever made in any part of the United States. 



KNOWLTON. 

Knowlton is 9 miles long, 7 wide, and is bounded NW. by Paha- 
quarry, E. by Hardwick, SE. by Hope, S. by Oxford, and W. by 
the Delaware river. There are in the township 16 schools, 769 
scholars. Pop. 2,310. 

The Blue mountain forms its NW. boundary ; its surface is else- 
where generally hilly, abounding in many knolls, from which the 
township is said to have derived its name. The Paulinskill runs 
centrally through Knowlton and empties into the Delaware just S. 
of the village of Columbia. 

Columbia, on the Delaware river, 9 miles NW. of Belvidere, con- 
tains a large saw-mill, several mechanic shops, a Methodist church, 
and about 25 dwellings. Knowlton Mills, upwards of a mile NE. 
of the above, on the Paulinskill, contains a large grist, a saw, and a 
clover mill, and a few dwellings. Blairstown, formerly called 



5.> 



WARREN COUXTY 



Gravel Hill, conte . - - fcgrist-m several mecihai) - 

gs, 1 Id - and iFtes 

.-. few 
.. 

passage, in the Bfa K 

\ s ■ - . - 

It is s s _ gists it 1 bis .'■•■•'_ 

was wrought by some mig 

rocks » a passage fori si; ..nved 

' _ . - - - 

ame, was shed in & r, 1842, 

- A 






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WARREN COUNTY. &■) 

me in all its vastness. From this point I took the sketch represented in the aeconrpa- 
• <ngraving. 
On each side of the Gap the mountains are seen rising to the height of nearij one 
third of a mile, their sides clothed with the towering hemlock and other forest trees. 
In rnir.j p^ces huge ledges of rock, handreds of feet high, stand frowning forth : and 
on the - : gfat side descend precipitously to the waters edge. In the distance 

stains appear 1 o ' jl, and, curving aroond to the left, shut oat a 

farther prospect. From between, the Delaware comes winding down in all her majesty, 
I sheet of liquid silver, and giving the finishing touch to a landscape of sur- 
passing grandeur. 

A; evening approached, I proceeded to the tavern seen at the base of the mountain. 
Supper was soon ready. Capacious dishes, filled almost to overflowing with a desirable 

. were piled promisctK i ,ontry fashion'' on the board. While helping 
I the good things, and partaking of the best of coffee, the landlady, a 
hale, robust, elderly woman, amused me with stories of rattlesnakes and other reptiles 
that infest these regions, until I almost trembled at the thought of ascending the moon- 
tain on the morrow 

- dark, I went into the Gap, and there witnessed a novel method of fishinr 8 
veral lines were stretched across the river, at that plaee about forty rods wide, to which 
rses with hooks. Once in an hoar or two, the fishermen would 
row across the stream, take in their Ones, gather the fish, and then reset ther.. 
wishing to join in so unscientific a method of angling, I seated myself alone on a fallen 
trunk, under some trees, beside the river bank. I shall never forget that moment. On 
the opposite side, high in air, in gloomy grandeur, arose the Jersey mountain ; its rough, 

precipices, and deep, fearful chasms, just discerned through the blackness of 
night, were reflected boldly on the surface of the river, which appeared dark and unfa- 
thomable as etern iJ stars were twinkling far away above the mountain, and 
here and there, on the other bank, a light from some solitary dwelling east rays across 
the blackened waters. Immediately behind me, lav the fishermen in grotesqae postures 
around a hoge fire, the warm li?ht of which iHumiaing the leafy canopy over my head, 
enhanced the wild sublimity ;ne. 

■est mornir ._• any with the landlady's son, and a small dog as a protee- 

i mssed the river, and commenced the toilsome ascent of the Jer- 

...i. . A*, first, I - rperieneed slight trepidation, momentarily expecting to hear 
the low, terrific warning of a rattlesnake, or feel the sting of some malicious pilot, as be 
darted from a jutting rock into my face ; but our httle cur going ahead, «am<Sng and 
smelling among the stones in search of these reptiles, set an example of fi nil mutt *i 
that his superiors were glad to copy. We a: length arrived at the summit, when was 
presented a scene of glory. To the south it ■ . - 

■ A gaily checkered, heart-expanding view, 
Far as the circling eye could shoot around.'' 

it expanse was spread oat in the luxuriance of vegetation ; diversified with hills, 

valleys, woodlands, cultivated fields, and here and there a dweDing. Through this 

lovely landscape gently wound the Delaware : the gurgling of its passing waters in the 

vale in soft murmurs reached the heights above. To the north, up the gorge, the scene 

..d. On the left, the Pennsylvania mountain came abruptly down to the water's 

edge. TV ~ : '. and front, the eminence we were on carved around, and enclosing 

- in a basin, imparted to it the similitude of a lake, as it lay below, deep and 

sombre in the shadow of encircling hills. Still further on, the whole background was 

filled with long ranges of irregularly peaked mountains : those near, fresh in their livery 

of green ; those beyond, assuming a deep bine color, and then beco mi ng fainter and 

• until mellowing away like indistinct clouds afar off in the horizon. 

Descending, I recrossed the river to the tavern, where I had stayed the preceding 

Buckling on my knapsack, I walked upward through the gap. At the distance 

of half a mile, the river turns suddenly to the left, and then soon again resumes its 

former course. In a miV or more, the mountains grow less bold, although still lofty ; 

and the stream wider, until it expands to its full breadth. Numerous verdant isles now 

appear, graced with massy trees, whose branches bend as if to kiss the p»«"»g waters. 

The hills recede from the river : cultivated farms and dwellings picsent themselves, and 

erne changes its wildness to one of enchanting beauty. I walked on for several 

miles, and was finally rowed in a boat across the river to a neighboring farm-house, 

I was to pass the night. Toe rap of the departing sun gliding the summits of 



510 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 

the mountains, and the lengthening shadows in the valley and across the waters, told 
that night was near. While enjoying the prospect, my mind was filled with pleasing 
retrospections of the few past hours ; and as I sat in that little skiff, gliding over the pla- 
cid surface of the Delaware, I felt that this had been one of the happiest days of my life. 



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 

SHAWUSKUKHKUNG, {Wilted Grass.)— BARTHOLOMEW S. CALVIN. 

In the year 1832 a grant of $2,000 was obtained from the legislature of New Jersey 
by an aged Indian representing the Delaware tribe. His name was Bartholomew S. 
Calvin. His appellation among his own people was Shawuskuk/ikuiig, or Wilted Grass. 
He had received his education at Princeton College, and in early life kept a school, both 
for whites and Indians, at Edge Pillock, where he was often visited by Mr. Samuel Al- 
linson, author of Allinson's Laws of New Jersey, who considered him an intelligent and 
worthy man. The following is a brief summary of the nature of the claims on which 
this grant was founded, and of the Delaware branch of the Lenni Lennappi tribe. 

When this country was first visited by Europeans, that part of New Jersey south of 
the Raritan, was occupied by the Delaware Indians. Their right of ownership was 
recognised by the English, and large purchases were from time to time made, as the 
demands of the settlers required. Most of their lands were thus sold prior to the year 
1758, when a treaty was held at Crosswicks, at which the whole of their remaining 
claims were extinguished, except a reservation of the right of fishing in all rivers and 
bays, and of hunting on all unenclosed grounds. A tract containing 3,000 acres was 
purchased for them at Edge Pillock in Burlington co., where the scattered remnant 
of the tribe, amounting only to (JO persons, were settled. They continued here until 
1802, when at the invitation of their " Grandson," the Stockbridge tribe, they removed 
to New Stockbridge, near Oneida lake. Years rolled on until the westward tide of emi- 
gration had again surrounded them with a white population, whose cupidity rendered 
their situation very uncomfortable. At length, in conjunction with several other tribes, 
they purchased of the Menomonie Indians a tract of land near Green Bay, in Michigan 
Territory, extending a considerable distance on both sides of Fox river. The Delawares 
and the Stockbridgcs have here formed a joint settlement, called Statcsburgh, and de- 
pend almost entirely on agricultural pursuits for a subsistence. A missionary and 
schoolmaster have been sent among them by the Boston Missionary Society, whose la- 
bors have been blessed, and a number of them have become hopefully pious. Drunken- 
ness has become rare among them, and a temperance society in 1832 numbered upwards 
of 100 members. 

Of the Delawares, there remained, at the time in question, but about 40 at States- 
burgh, and these, cherishing a tradition respecting their fishing and hunting rights in 
New Jersey, delegated B. S. Calvin to obtain from the Legislature compensation for their 
relinquishment. In presenting his claims, he accompanied them with a petition in his 
favor, signed by a considerable number of respectable citizens, and the following address 
written with his own hand, he being then 76 years of age. 

ADDRESS 

My Brethren, — I am old, ar:d weak, and poor, and therefore a fit representative of 
my people. You are young, and strong, and rich, and therefore fit representatives of 
your people. But let me beg you for a moment to lay aside the recollections of your 
strength and of our weakness, that your minds may be prepared to examine with can- 
dor the subject of our claims. 

Our tradition informs us, and I believe it corresponds with your records, that the 
right of fishing in all the rivers and bays south of the Raritan, and of hunting in all un- 
enclosed lands, was never relinquished, but on the contrary was expressly reserved in 
our last treaty, held at Crosswicks, in 1758. 

Having myself been one of the parties to the sale, I believe in 1801, I know that 
these rights were not sold or parted with. 

We now offer to sell these privileges to the state of New Jersey. They were once of 
great value to us, and we apprehend that neither time nor distance, nor the non-use of 
our rights, has at all affected them, but that the courts here would consider our claims 
valid were we to exercise them ourselves, or delegate them to others. It is not, how- 



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 511 

ever, our wish thus to excite litigation. We consider the state legislature the proper 
purchaser, and throw ourselves upon its benevolence and magnanimity, trusting that 
feelings of justice and liberality will induce you to give us what you deem a compen- 
sation. 

And as we have ever looked up to the leading characters of the United States, (and 
to the leading characters of this state in particular,) as our fathers, protectors, and friends, 
we now look up to you as such, and humbly beg that you will look upon us with that 
eye of pity, as we have reason to think our poor untutored forefathers looked upon yours, 
when they first arrived upon our then extensive but uncultivated dominions, and sold 
them their lands, in many instances, for trifles in comparison as " light as air." 

From your humble petitioners, 

Bartholomew S. Calvin, , 

In behalf of himself and his red brethren. 

The whole subject was referred to a committee, before whom the Hon. Samuel L. South- 
ard voluntarily and ably advocated the claims of the Delawares, and at the close of a 
speech which did him honor as a man and an orator, he remarked, " That it was a proud 
fact in the history of New Jersey, that every foot of her soil had been obtained from 
the Indians by fair and voluntary purchase and transfer, a fact that no other state of 
the union, not even the land which bears the name of Perm, can boast of." 

The committee reported favorably, and the legislature acted accordingly. The sum 
he received ($2,000) was indeed not large, yet it was all he solicited ; and considering 
the nature of the claims, it must be regarded as an act of beneficence as much as of jus- 
tice. It was, however, but the crowning act of a scries in which justice and kindness 
to the Indians have been kept steadily in view. The counsels of Barclay and of Penn, 
(the former a governor and the latter a proprietor of the colony,) seemed to have influ- 
enced their successors, and it is with feelings of honest pride that a Jerseyman may ad- 
vert to the fact, that the soil of his state is unpolluted by a battle with the Indians, that 
every acre of it has been fairly purchased, and that claims, deemed by many imaginary, 
have been listened to with respectful attention. 

The following letter of thanks was addressed to the legislature by Calvin, and read 
before the two houses in joint meeting on the 14th of March. It was received with 
shouts of acclamation. 

Trenton, March 12, 1832. 

" Bartholomew S. Calvin takes this method to return his thanks to both houses of the 
state legislature, and especially to their committees, for their very respectful attention to, 
and c;tndid examination of the Indian claims which he was delegated to present. 

The final act of official intercourse between the state of New Jersey and the Delaware 
Indians, who once owned nearly the whole of its territory, has now been consummated, 
and in a manner which must redound to the honor of this growing state, and, in all prob- 
ability, to the prolongation of the existence of a wasted, yet grateful people. Upon this 
parting occasion, I feel it to be an incumbent duty to bear the feeble tribute of my praise 
to the high-toned justice which, in this instance, and, so far as I am acquainted, in all 
former times, has actuated the councils of this commonwealth in dealing with the abo- 
riginal inhabitants. 

Not a drop of our blood have you spilled in battle — not an acre of our land have you 
taken but by our consent. These facts speak for themselves, and need no comment. 
They place the character of New Jersey in bold relief and bright example to those states 
within whose territorial limits our brethren still remain. Nothing save benisons can fall 
upon her from the lips of a Lenni Lenappi. 

There may be some who would despise an Indian benediction; but when I return to 
my people, and make known to them the result of my mission, the ear of the great Sov- 
ereign of the Universe, which is still open to our cry, will be penetrated with our invoca- 
tion of blessings upon the generous sons of New Jersey. 

To those gentlemen, members of the legislature, and others who have evinced their 
kindness to me, I cannot refrain from paying the unsolicited tribute of my heart-felt 
thanks. Unable to return them any other compensation, I fervently pray that God will 
have them in His holy keeping — will guide them in safety through the vicissitudes of this 
life, and ultimately, through the rich mercies of our blessed Redeemer, receive them into 
the glorious entertainment of his kingdom above." 

It ought not to be omitted that Calvin was educated at Princeton at the expense of 
the Scotch Missionary Society, and there remained in the pursuit of his studies till the 
commencement of hostilities between the colonies and the mother country, when he 
shouldered his musket and marched against the common enemy. 



KJ 



512 MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 



From sentiments which the compiler* of these notes respecting him has heard him 
express, he infers that the principles which he cherished in old age would not admit of 
taking human life in war. 



INDIAN NAMES, WITH THEIR SIGNIFICATION.! 

Jlssiscunk Creek, (at Burlington city.)— Muddy or dirty creek. 

Mloways Creek, (Salem county.) — So named from a chief of that name who resided upon it. % 

Absecumb Bay and town, (Burlington county.)— A bead) or place of swans, from the numbei which re- 
sorted there. 

Jicquackanunck Village, (P % assaic county.)— Where gum blocks were made or procured for pounding com. 

Burlington City. — Heckewelder said the Indians called this place Tschicholiocki, which means ancient 
Cultivated land, or the oldest planted ground : they said here was built lheir first town on the river. 

Burlington Island, (partly above the city.)— This was by the natives called Jiatinicunk , and by this 
name it was given by the Legislature of West Jersey, in 11582, to the town of Burlington, for the support of 
a free school. It contains about 320 acres, and, with the fisheries, yields an annual income of from 1,000 to 
1,500 dollars. 

Blue Mountain, (Warren county, &c.) — Kittaning or Kittanny, as usually w-ritten ; but it has been subje I 
to almost as many variations, and even other names, as there are manuscripts or books in which this range 
is mentioned. The true orthography is Kituteney, meaning the main or chief town. The Jllinsees, or 
more properly called the J\linsie$, at a very early period retired to the northerly side of this mountain, where 
they erected their towns on the low lands upon each side of the river, whence the name extended to, and 
included the mountain. These low lands still retain the name of the Jffinisink, the peace of setilcment, or 
habitation of the Jilmsirs. In an old survey of the Vancampen tract, made in 1718, this mountain is called 
Pohoqualin, which signifies the termination of two mountains, with a stream between, as at the Water 
Gap; and hence also the name of the township of Pahaquarry. 

Bloomfield, Village, (Essex county.) — This place was called by the natives ^assessing, crooked place, el- 
bow-like — from a remarkable crook or bend in Third river. 

Crosswicks, (Burlington on the creek, between Burlington and Mercer counties.)— Criswicks village.— 
The house of separation. It was a custom among the Indians to cause their young women at certain pe- 
riods to separate themselves from the men, and go to a nut made lor their reception at some distance, and 
there to remain a certain number of days, before they were permitted to return One of these places was 
upon a high bank of the creek where the village now is, and hence the name of the creek. 

Egg Harbor Bay, (Atlantic county.)— So named from the number of gulls' eggs which were found there 
in the salt meadows. 

Hobokcn, (Hudson county.)— A tobacco-pipe; frequently used in a symbolic sense to express crookedness, 
and is here so used in reference to the form of the river shore. 

Hackcnsack River, (Hudson county.)— The stream which unites with another in low level ground al- 
most imperceptibly. 

Kindcrkamack, (Bergen county.)— There is a tradition, that in a war between the whites and the Indians, 
the latter were driven and sought refuge in a secret place where they might repose for the night in safety, 
but the whites, hearing the crowing of a cock early the next inoming,and thereby suspecting their place of 
retreat, tame upon them by surprise, and took them prisoners. The Indians, attributing their misfortune to 
that cause, named the place, Where the cock crowed. 

JUatchaponix Creek, (Middlesex county.)— Bad bread ; denoting a poor country, not producing any thing 
to make good bread. 

JMuiuilopan Creek.— This is in contradistinction to the above, denoting good bread, or good country. 

Mnnasqunn River, (Monmouth county.) — An enclosure with a house therein ; perhaps a fort or place of 
defence on this river. 

JUanahocking Village, (Monmouth county.)— Good corn-land ; the creek received its name from this. 

JMusconctcong Creek, (Hunterdon and Warren.)— A rapid running stream. 

JVavisink Bay, (Monmouth county.)— Fishing place. 

Perth Jlmboy City, (Middlesex county.)— Amboy, from Emboli, hollow in the inside, like a bowl; there 
being a depression in the ground a little north of the city. Perth was prefixed in honor of the Earl of Perth, 
(John Drummond,) one of the proprietors of this place. 

Piscatazeay Township, (Middlesex county.)— It is getting dark ; the Indians probably arrived here in the 
evening, or in foggy weather. The same name occurs in several of the other slates. 

Passaic Hire/, (Essex county, &c.)— A valley ; comparative, in respect to its opposite the Hackensack, 
which, from its flowing a considerable distance through meadow, is without a valley. 

Pompton Village, Src, (Munis county, &c.)— Crooked-mouthed. This probably refers to the manner in 
which the Rtagwood and llainapo rivers pass down and discharge themselves into the Pompton river near 
this place. 

Pequannoek River, (Morris county, &c>— Dark river. 

Ramapo River, ( Passaic county.)— So named from the number of round ponds which discharge into it. 

Raritan River, (Somerset county, &.C.,, — Forked river. 

Shamong Village. — The place of the large horn. 

Suckasunvy Village, (Morris county.;— Black or iron stone creek; from the creek commonly called Black 
river — abounding in iron ore. 

Totawa Falls, (at Paterson.) — To sink or be forced down under water by weight. 

Tuckahoe River, (between Cape May and Atlantic counties.)— Where deer are shy— difficult to come at. 
Whippany Creek, (Morris county.)— Arrow creek ; where the wood or willow grows, of which arrows 
were made. 

* This article was communicated for this work by William J. Allinson, of Burlington. 
t Communicated for this work by Thomas Gordon, Esq., of Trenton. 

THE END. 



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